Construction World October 2020

HQJLQHHULQJ VHUYLFHV )RU H[DPSOH WKH ͤUP delivered structural review engineering and construction monitoring services for the 50 MW !Khi Solar One Tower, the tallest concentrating solar power at the time, and served as owner’s engineer on the Noblesfontein Wind Farm, relying heavily upon its geotechnical specialist consulting services. These extensive experience and learning have also helped inform the services SURYLGHG E\ WKH 7UDQVSRUW DQG 7UDͦF Engineering Department to the renewable HQHUJ\ VHFWRU DQG SRVLWLRQHG WKH ͤUP DV DPRQJ RQH RI WKH ORFDO OHDGHUV LQ WKH ͤHOG Wink is optimistic about the future of renewable energy in the country, considering President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to restart the REIPPP programme by initiating WKH ͤIWK ELGGLQJ ZLQGRZ LQ KLV 6WDWH RI the Nation Address earlier this year. This is despite delays to the implementation of this plan due to the lockdown to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “South Africa has lost a lot of manufacturing capacity because of previous delays to the REIPPP programme. A case in point is a wind tower factory in the Eastern Cape that went into liquidation due to the postponement of projects. Locally manufactured tower sections for wind projects would have eased some of the logistical challenges surrounding these projects. This is over-and-above contributing towards the localisation targets set out by the REIPPP programme. Certainly, a resolute commitment from government to renewable energy bodes well for the entire industry,” she concludes. ƒ cranes to lift the blades over obstacles as they make their way from the ports, such as Ngqura in VJG 'CUVGTP %CRG 6JG VCUM CV JCPF GPVCKNU using specialised imported trucks and self-steering trailers to PGIQVKCVG UJCTR VWTPU In some instances, the VTCKNGTU CTG CNUQ ƒVVGF YKVJ

remote locations. They are becoming PRUH LVRODWHG SODFLQJ VLJQLͤFDQW ORJLVWLFDO constraints on both the developer, as well as the engineer, procure and construction teams appointed to execute these large projects. “International original equipment manufacturers’ components, including the blades, nacelles and tower sections, have to be transported over longer distances from a suitable point of entry to outlying rural areas that are not adequately or yet serviced by roads. There has been at least one case where a project was scuppered because the abnormal loads trucks would have been unable to access the project VLWH GHVSLWH QXPHURXV DWWHPSWV WR ͤQG D ZRUNDEOH VROXWLRQ %DVHG RQ WKH ͤQGLQJV RI our studies during the early planning phases of these projects, the location of many wind turbine generators have also had to be relocated to areas that can be accessed by the specialised haulage companies that will be appointed to transport the valuable mechanical equipment,” Wink says. She adds that the components are also becoming larger, adding a further level of complexity to transport and logistics planning on these projects. For example, -* $IULND KDV XQGHUWDNHQ WUDͦF DQG transportation studies for wind farms that have wind-generator turbines with hub heights of up to 190 m to reach higher above the earth’s surface where stronger winds EORZ 7KHLU PRUH DHURG\QDPLFDOO\ HͦFLHQW blades are up to 95 m in length, while the

nacelle, alone, can weigh up to 56 tonnes. This is opposed to those wind projects that were completed during earlier windows of the REIPPP programme that entailed around 60 m-high wind turbines with blade lengths of between 45 m and 50 m. The components were hence still shorter. Transporting a single blade all the way from the port of entry to the crane laydown area or directly to the location of a wind turbine, where they are lifted and placed on the nacelle by contractors working to VWULFW GHDGOLQHV LV D VLJQLͤFDQW XQGHUWDNLQJ The task at hand entails using specialised imported trucks and self-steering trailers to negotiate sharp turns. In some instances, WKH WUDLOHUV DUH DOVR ͤWWHG ZLWK FUDQHV WR OLIW the blades over obstacles as they make their way from the ports, such as Ngqura in the Eastern Cape. Specialist drivers and technicians help to transport these abnormal loads over predetermined routes. Some of the other factors that are taken into consideration GXULQJ WKH WUDͦF DQG WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ planning include challenging gradients, route hazards, as well as underground and over-ground services. This is in addition to challenging factors, such as black-spots, sharp bends, overhead height restrictions, weather conditions, and telecommunications and cable clearances. Certainly, these projects complement WKH ͤUP̵V DOUHDG\ VWURQJ SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ the REIPPP programme where JG Afrika has provided other quality professional

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2020