Wind Energy

In the last decade, the technology used to capture the force of the wind has evolved dramatically, and South Africa has increased its wind power capacity annually. Wind turbines, as they are now known, capture and transform the wind’s kinetic energy into electricity to help power the electrical grid.

Wind energy is a byproduct of solar energy. Wind is caused by the sun’s uneven heating of the atmosphere, the earth’s uneven surfaces (mountains and valleys), and the planet’s movement around the sun. Since wind is abundant, it is a renewable resource for as long as the sun continues to warm the globe.

Moreover, since wind energy is a developing business, it is creating employment in towns around the nation.

WIND ENERGY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Wind as an energy source is only viable in regions with strong, consistent winds. South Africa has favourable wind potential, particularly around the Western and Eastern Cape coastlines.

South Africa wind farms are detailed below.

Roggeveld Wind Farm: 147 MW

The Roggeveld Wind Farm, situated in the Western Cape region, is the largest wind farm in South Africa in terms of installed capacity. Roggeveld signed its power purchase agreement (PPA) in April 2018 and completed financial closure soon afterwards. The facility, developed by G7 and later acquired by Building Energy, is the most efficient wind farm in South Africa with the lowest power rate. In March of 2022, the plant began delivering vital power to the national grid.

144 MW Longyuan Mulilo De Aar 2 North Wind

The Longyuan Mulilo De Aar2 North Wind project is an R5 billion venture in the Northern Cape region. It was developed by China Longyuan Power Group Corporation via its subsidiary, Longyuan SA. The farm has a total capacity of 144 MW and was built under Bid Window Three of the REIPPP. Completed in 2013 and including 96 turbines, this project is the largest in South Africa in terms of installed capacity.

Loeriesfontein 2: 140 MW

Loeriesfontein 2 is located in the province of Northern Cape and is owned by Lekela Power and managed by Mainstream Asset Management. The farm entered commercial operation in 2017, with 61 turbines made by Siemens with a total generating capacity of 140 MW. The wind farm is the second largest in the nation in terms of installed capacity, providing renewable power to 120,000 homes.

Oyster Bay: 140 megawatts

Enel Green Power South Africa constructed the operating Oyster Bay wind farm in the province of Eastern Cape in South Africa. With an installed capacity of 140 MW and the ability to generate 568 GWh of energy annually, the plant offsets about 590,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions. The construction of the facility started in May 2019, and it will be operational by July 2021.

Khobab: 140 MW

The 140 MW Khobab wind plant, also owned by Lekela Power and constructed and maintained by Mainstream Asset Management, is situated in the Northern Cape region and consists of 61 Siemens turbines. Considered the sibling plant of Loeriesfontein 2, construction was finished in December 2017 and connection to the main grid occurred in 2018. The power plant creates 563,500 MWh of clean energy annually, which is utilised to power about 170,000 homes.

139 MW Cookhouse wind farm

Located in the Northern Cape region, the R2.4 billion, 139 MW Cookhouse wind farm is owned by Old Mutual and managed by ACED/Suzion. The wind farm produces 340,000 MWh of renewable power annually using 66 turbines with a capacity of 2.1 MW each. The farm was put into operation in 2014 and is linked to the national power grid.

Jeffreys Bay: 138 MW

The R2 billion, 138 MW Jeffreys Bay project came online in 2014 and is situated between Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape region. As part of a 20-year PPA negotiated with Eskom, Globeleq’s farm, which was developed under the REIPPP, produces 460,000 MWh annually, sufficient to power 100,000 homes. Using its sixty Siemens 2.3 MW turbines to create electricity, the facility prevents the release of 420 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.