January 2019.

Kangnas Wind Farm announced the successful completion of its first foundation, which boasts a massive carbon footprint saving.

Kangnas Wind Farm poured the first of its foundations on 23 November 2018, followed by a 28-day strength test to ensure that the foundations achieved the required design strengths. The foundations are designed using a 70% replacement of cement, which signals a significant improvement in the concrete mix design for its turbine foundations.

“We have achieved a significant improvement in the concrete mix design for these turbine foundations, with the carbon footprint of the concrete mix design being reduced by 32.5% in CO2,” explained Christo Loots, Construction Programme Manager for Kangnas Wind Farm.

A carbon footprint is defined by the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Kangnas Wind Farm’s construction team is led by Manie Kotzé who has confirmed that 12 foundations are already complete and he expects that all 61 foundations will be in place by early July this year. To achieve this milestone on time the project relies largely on its workforce, which comprises a whopping 77% of locals from the beneficiary community of Springbok.

“Local employment is an important aspect of our construction programme, alongside skills training,” explained Kotzé, Construction Project Manager for Kangnas Wind Farm.

Situated in the Nama Khoi Municipal area, this wind farm will have the capacity to generate enough clean electricity to power up to 120 000 South African homes.

In addition to zero carbon emissions and reduced use of fossil fuels, the country will benefit from almost zero water consumption that is required during the generation process of Kangnas Wind Farm.