Review of wind energy activities at the CSIR

Abstract

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the DoE and Eskom have jointly developed the South African Renewable Energy Resource Database. Since the wind resource database is not accurate enough the Global Environmental Facility and the Danish Government are funding a three year project to develop an accurate wind resource map for the coastal regions of South Africa. Two wind/PV based pilot hybrid mini-grid energy systems have been implemented in the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape Province. These two wind/PV minigrids were implemented to provide the learning and experience for wind and other forms of renewable energy based systems to compliment the grid connected electrification programme. The CSIR, together with the then DME and the City of Cape Town investigated the feasibility of large wind turbines. This resulted in Eskom implementing its wind energy scheme at Klipheuwel near Cape Town. Even although the South African wind resource is not yet fully quantified it is recognised that the wind resource ranges from poor to moderate and the CSIR has designed and built wind turbines to operate in moderate wind conditions. This paper will provide an overview of wind energy activities at the CSIR