The development of South Africa's 810-megawatt Gagasi offshore wind project was delayed after the application for environmental authorization was withdrawn due to proposed design changes, Reuters reported Thursday, citing Acer (Africa) Environmental Consultants.
Acer was appointed to conduct the environmental assessment for Africa's first proposed offshore wind farm introduced in 2022. GenesisHexicon, a joint venture between Sweden's Hexicon and South Africa's Genesis Eco-Energy Developments, owns the project.
However, the consultancy firm did not proceed with the study after the environmental application was withdrawn last year, as the developers intended to make technical changes from floating to anchored wind turbines, Acer Managing Director Dieter Heinsohn told Reuters. The status of the project remains unclear.
GenesisHexicon's project timeline on its website indicated that environmental authorization for the windfarm's offshore components was expected in Q2, at the same time the application for onshore components would be submitted.
The company did not immediately respond to' request for comment.
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