EDF to Build South African Wind Farms in 2013 After Award

Electricite de France SA, Europe’s biggest power generator, plans to start work in 2013 at the three wind projects awarded in a South African auction to boost alternative energy sources.

EDF Energies Nouvelles SA, the company’s clean energy unit, is also seeking to get loans for the wind farms next year with commissioning due in 2014, the company said today in a statement.

It was selected as the preferred bidder on the projects by the South African government in a second bidding round for renewable energy.

The nation approved 19 wind, solar and hydropower proposals on May 21. South Africa is expanding capacity after state-run Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., which produces most of its power from coal, suffered shortages in 2008.

EDF Energies Nouvelles will build the 20.6-megawatt Chaba farm, the 23.3-megawatt Waainek project and 59.8-megawatt Grassridge facility in the Eastern Cape province. They will use turbines made by Vestas Wind Systems A/S, according to the e- mailed statement.

To contact the reporter responsible for this story: Sally Bakewell in London at Sbakewell1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reed Landberg at landberg@bloomberg.net