The first of 35 wind turbines has been erected at the 80MW Noupoort wind farm in the Northern Cape in South Africa.
Siemens Wind Power along with their subcontractors, Fairwind and BMS, are responsible for the instillation.
All 35 foundations were completed, ahead of schedule, on 20 November.
This ZAR1.9bn wind farm is expected to start supplying electricity to the national grid by mid-2016.
The turbines are 100m tall and take one day to construct during favourable weather. The three 53m blades, made from fibreglass reinforced epoxy, are connected to the rotor at ground level before being lifted to the top of the turbine.
Noupoort Wind Farm project manager Martina Flanagan said: “With two cranes working simultaneously, it is really impressive to watch the 108 meter diameter rotor being lifted.”
The project is being developed by a consortium made up of Lekela Power, Noupoort Renewable Energy Trust, Thebe Investment Corp, The Ideas Managed Fund, Futuregrowth Asset Management and Genesis Eco-Energy in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital.
Image: the first turbine erected at Noupoort wind farm (Noupoort Wind Farm)
