Renewable-energy company EDF Renewables has commissioned South Africa’s first main transmission substation built by an independent power producer (IPP), in the Northern Cape.

The Koruson 400/132 kV substation outside Noupoort has been designed and built to connect 1.5 GW of renewable energy to the national grid.

The substation, which is integrated into an existing 400 kV overhead line, will provide the infrastructure for surrounding renewable-energy farms to complete their respective connections to the grid and start exporting energy.

Specifically, a consortium that EDF is a part of built the substation and is also developing the adjacent Koruson 1 cluster of projects, which will connect to the grid through the main transmission substation as part of Round 5 of the IPP Office’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.

“This is the first greenfield transmission substation in more than seven years to be connected to the grid, and it is the first greenfield transmission substation that is a full self-build, meaning it was developed, financed, engineered, built and commissioned by an IPP.

“It is also the first time that the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) has approved a self-build scope of works of this magnitude,” says EDF Renewables grid engineering head Tshepo Tshivhasa.

Phase 1 will see the Koruson 1 project connect three wind energy facilities, totalling 420 MW, to the national grid. In Phase 2, the neighbouring Envusa Energy Koruson 2 project will connect two wind energy facilities and a solar farm, totalling 520 MW, to the grid.

Each of the individual renewable-energy facilities will have its own distribution connection, consisting of 132 kV overhead lines and Eskom switching stations, built under a self-build agreement with the national grid operator.

“This main transmission substation has also seen the implementation of a full suite of latest Phase 6 protection, control and automation schemes, enhancing operational reliability and efficiency, some of which was specifically developed as part of this project.

“Additionally, the integration of the substation into the existing transmission network alters grid dynamics, requiring modifications, such as the replacement of two 400 kV towers with new 400 kV transposition towers, to ensure compliance with the latest operational standards,” says EDF Renewables senior project manager Carl Wlotzka.

“This ‘first of its kind’ project lays the foundations for future self-build, and NTCSA, projects in South Africa. This project marks a significant step in strengthening South Africa’s renewable-energy infrastructure while maintaining grid stability and efficiency,” EDF Renewables CEO Tristan de Drouas comments.