Restore the power grid | Heavy energy user lightens Eskom's load

WESTONARIA - The Gold Fields Mine has harnessed the sun.

Now, it's looking to ride the wind.

The Westonaria mine has a solar plant that produces about 50 megawatts.

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It's now looking into wind turbines for energy production beyond sunset.

"Solar is only effective during the day, at night you're still reliant on the grid so we are busy with a couple of studies here around wind to determine whether it will work, and the preliminary work seems to suggest it will work," said Benford Mokoatle.

"Between 60 and 120 metres, we are certainly getting the right wind speeds that will enable us to generate power from the wind turbines."