Leading Wind Energy Installations in South Africa
South Africa's Largest Wind Farms: A Comprehensive Overview
South Africa is making significant strides in renewable energy, particularly in wind power. Here's a look at some of the country's largest wind farms by installed capacity, as of 2022.
The Soetwater Wind Farm, located in the Northern Cape, leads the pack with a capacity of 141.9 MW. It became operational in 2022.
The Albany Wind Energy Facility, situated in the Eastern Cape, has been approved for up to 297 MW capacity. However, its finalized turbine count and operational status as of 2022 are uncertain.
The Sere Wind Farm, located in the Western Cape, is one of the earlier sizable wind farms in South Africa, with a capacity of approximately 100 MW.
Other notable wind farms include the Dewey–Baldridge project, which consists of various smaller wind farms and combined renewable projects, generally below 150 MW individual capacity.
The Oyster Bay Wind Power facility, developed and owned by Enel Green Power, has a capacity of 140 MW and sells its energy to the South African national electricity utility company, Eskom.
The Mpumalanga Wind Farm project, located in Mpumalanga, is expected to have a capacity of 155 MW. It is part of Seriti Green's larger 900 MW Ummbila Emoyeni hybrid energy complex, with completion scheduled for October 2027.
The Amakhala Emoyeni wind farm, located in the Eastern Cape, has a capacity of 134 MW and 56 turbines.
The Roggeveld wind farm holds the distinction of having the lowest ever electricity tariff to have achieved financial close in South Africa.
The Gouda Wind Farm is a partnership between Aveng and Acciona Energia.
The Kangnas Wind Power Station, located in Northern Cape, has a capacity of 137 MW and started commercial operations in November 2020.
Surprisingly, the Longyuan Mulilo De Aar2 North Wind farm, with a capacity of 144 MW, is South Africa's largest operational wind farm, despite the Soetwater Wind Farm's slightly higher capacity. The Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, located between Humansdorp and Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape, has a capacity of 132 MW and 60 turbines, and can produce 460,000 MWh annually.
The Roggeveld wind farm, located in the Western Cape, has a capacity of 147 MW and is anticipated to become the most efficient wind farm in Southern Africa.
The Loeriesfontein 2 wind farm, located in the Hantam Municipality of South Africa's Northern Cape, has a capacity of 140 MW and uses 61 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines.
The Cookhouse Wind Farm, located in South Africa, also has a capacity of 138 MW.
These wind farms, along with many others, were developed under the third round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) of the South African government. Key developers in these projects include Enel Green Power, EDF Renewables, and Pele Green Energy.
- The construction of the Mpumalanga Wind Farm, the largest of which is part of Seriti Green's 900 MW Ummbila Emoyeni hybrid energy complex, is underway in Mpumalanga and it is expected to contribute an additional 155 MW to South Africa's renewable energy industry.
- In the finance sector, the Gouda Wind Farm, a partnership between Aveng and Acciona Energia, is among the wind farms in South Africa that have attracted significant investments, contributing to the growth of the renewable energy industry.
- The engineering of renewable energy facilities plays a crucial role in South Africa's renewable energy sector, with projects like the Albany Wind Energy Facility, despite its uncertain operational status, demonstrating the industry's potential for expansion beyond its current wind farms.
