South Africa’s wind energy is taking shape as it constructs 1.3 GW of wind energy projects, with 53 GW in the development pipeline. The wind energy industry in South Africa has hopes to take the leading position in the country’s plans towards a just energy transition. The wind projects aim to transition energy sources from traditional to renewable solutions. Furthermore, the country is making moves to ensure that it meets its own energy demand. According to the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) CEO Niveshen Govender, wind energy has steadily established itself as a vital component of South Africa’s energy transition.
He also noted that this is a transition that has occurred over the past decade. “Our industry has achieved remarkable milestones, contributing to over 3.5 gigawatts of installed capacity. Currently, the wind industry has 1.3 gigawatts of wind projects currently in construction. We have a pipeline of 53 gigawatts of wind projects under development in the country.”
Project Fact Sheet
Country: South Africa
Scope of Project: 53 GW of Wind Energy
Entities Involved: South African Wind Energy Association, Ministry of Energy
Significance: Transition from traditional sources to renewable solutions
State of Affairs Regarding the 1.3 Gigawatts Wind Energy Projects in South Africa
South Africa’s 1.3 GW wind energy projects are a crucial part of the nation’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The plan comprehensively indicates how the country will sustain its energy needs in the future. Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa mentioned that the IRP is under review, with 4,000 public submissions received during consultations. Out of those, officials will consider 250 submissions for their meaningful contributions. Furthermore, they also revised the transmission development plan, which had previously aimed to build 14,000 kilometres over 10 years. Ramokgopa also stressed that South Africa is actively transitioning from traditional sources to renewable solutions. He also underscored the country’s commitment to meeting its energy demands and supporting neighboring countries like Zambia.
The Windaba 2024 conference showcased wind energy’s vital role in South Africa’s renewable energy future. With large-scale projects underway and regulatory reforms in progress, wind energy stands ready to become a cornerstone of the country’s energy strategy. The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill (ERA), is laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable energy mix in South Africa. However, the challenges that persist whether this is specifically the grid constraints or more generally the structural reforms must be acknowledged.
Some of the Wind Energy Projects Already Underway
One of South Africa’s 1.3 GW wind energy projects is the Mpumalanga, which is known for its vast coal reserves that account for 83% of South Africa’s coal production. For this reason, it results in a robust mining sector. It has significant potential in terms of renewable energy, such as wind, biomass, and solar. A Green Cape’s industry brief suggests that Mpumalanga has 3.3 GW of grid capacity available and is one of the few provinces with the available capacity to host large-scale renewable energy projects. Mining, agriculture and navigating land use are some of the challenges of renewable energy.
Among the challenges of renewable energy development are navigating the land use challenges of mining. Furthermore, agriculture and environmental protection are also some of the challenges. Selecting suitable locations for wind farm projects is complicated by the scarcity of data regarding bird flight patterns, particularly within an environment marked by rich biodiversity and a significant number of endangered bird species in the province. Apart from the challenges, the province offers unique opportunities for the development of renewable energy projects.
