Boost for Darling wind farm

Cape Town - The Darling wind farm, which has not generated electricity since February, could soon return to service thanks to a ruling issued by Judge André Blignaut in the Western Cape High Court on Friday.

The order follows a settlement between the parties - Hermann Oelsner and Darling Independent Power Producer (Darlipp) on the one hand, and Darling Wind Power (in which the Central Energy Fund has a 49% stake) on the other.

In terms of the order Darlipp must deliver any keys granting access to the wind farm to Darling Wind Power's attorneys by 15:00 on Monday. This is to enable the German wind-turbine manufacturer Fuhrlander to repair the four turbines and ensure its continued operation and maintenance.

This was pending the finalisation of an arbitration process between the two parties, in which a decision must be reached on the legality of the cancellation of the management services agreement between the two parties at the end of last year.

Darling Wind Power, as the representative of the Central Energy Fund, originally awarded the contract for operating and maintaining the 5.2MW wind farm to Darlipp, but then cancelled it because of differences arising between the two.

Successful operation of the wind farm was further hampered by inadequate staff training and other technical problems.

Fuhrlander is able to control the turbines remotely and some three months or so ago decided to switch off the turbines. The Cape municipality, which has a contract to buy the environmentally friendly electricity from Darlipp, has since received no electricity from the wind farm.

On enquiry, Oelsner said he did not know when Fuhrlander technicians would arrive to restore the turbines. The arbitration process will proceed on July 28.

- Sake24.com

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