South Africa’s flagship 900 MW Ummbila Emoyeni wind farm project in Mpumalanga continues to advance through phased construction as developer Seriti Green accelerates one of the country’s largest private clean energy developments. The latest major update surrounding the project came in April 2026, when Seriti Green confirmed a total R25 billion investment commitment into renewable infrastructure in Mpumalanga. This builds momentum behind the renewable hybrid project as part of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition agenda.

With multiple phases already financially closed and under construction, Ummbila Emoyeni is increasingly emerging as a landmark transition project in the country’s traditional coal belt. The 900 MW Mpumalanga by Seriti project combines wind, solar PV, battery storage, and major grid infrastructure into a single multi-phase development asset.

Ummbila Emoyeni Renewable Energy Project Fact Sheet

Developer: Seriti Green

Parent Company: Seriti Resources

Location: Between Bethal, Davel and Morgenzon in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Project Type: Hybrid Renewable Energy Cluster (wind, solar, battery storage)

Total Capacity: 900 MW

Configuration Includes:

• Approx. 750 MW wind power
• Approx. 150 MW solar PV
• Battery energy storage system (BESS)
• New transmission substation and grid infrastructure

Estimated Investment Value: R25 billion

Project Delivery Model: Multi-phase (7 phases)

Project Status: Under phased construction

Environmental Authorization: Secured

Strategic Designation: Strategic Integrated Project (SIP)

Full Completion Date: 2027

900 MW Mpumalanga Wind Farm Project by Seriti: Development Timeline

2020-2024

• Early development, permitting and land assembly initiated.
• Environmental approvals pursued.

2024

• Financial close achieved for initial project phases.

August 2025

• Additional phases reach financial close.

October 2025

• Seriti Green announces financial close and construction commencement of Ummbila Emoyeni Phase 3 (155 MW).
• Total capacity under construction reaches approximately 465 MW.

Late 2025/Early 2026

• Phase 1 commissioning targeted.

April 2026

• Seriti Green reaffirms R25 billion investment program for Mpumalanga renewable rollout.

2026-2027

• Remaining phases expected to continue construction and phased energization.

2027

• Targeted full commissioning of entire 900 MW hybrid cluster.

Developer, Stakeholders, Financiers Behind the Ummbila Emoyeni Renewable Energy Project

Developer: Seriti Green

Parent Company: Seriti Resources

Transmission: Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd

Power Trading: NOA Group

Financial Institutions: Standard Bank Group, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), ABSA

Electrical Infrastructure Supplier: ACTOM High Voltage Equipment

The Mpumalanga Wind Farm Project by Seriti at the Center of SA Coal Mining Decarbonization

Ummbila Emoyeni is one of South Africa’s most important energy projects, located in the heart of Mpumalanga’s coal-producing region where much of the country’s thermal generation and coal mining activity is concentrated.

By pairing large-scale renewables with wheeling arrangements and mining demand, Seriti Green is building an energy bridge between legacy coal operations and the future low-carbon electricity market.

Additionally, about one-third of generated electricity is expected to supply Seriti Resources’ mining operations, while the remainder will be traded through independent market platforms. This is in part expected to support the emergence of South Africa’s competitive electricity market which has also seen increased interest from other industrial players. This includes industrial gas company Afrox, which recently signed a renewable energy PPA to power operations at its Kuilsriver air separation unit in Cape Town.

Outlook on the Project

As of May 2026, Ummbila Emoyeni has 465 MW already under construction, major funding secured, and grid infrastructure progressing. The project also stands out as among the ambitious private-sector renewable developments at scale in South Africa.

If the current delivery pace holds, the full 900 MW cluster could become operational by 2027, materially strengthening South Africa’s renewable generation base while supporting economic diversification in Mpumalanga’s coal communities.

Construction of South Africa’s Largest Wind Farm, 900 MW Mpumalanga, to Commence Soon

Reported February 5, 2023 – Construction of a 900 MW Mpumalanga wind farm, South Africa’s largest of its kind, is about to start in the heart of the country’s coal industry.

The project will begin with the implementation of its first phase which has a proposed capacity of 155 MW. This is after Seriti Green and Seriti Resources signed a power purchase agreement for this phase. The PPA has a 20-year underpin. 

The first phase of the 900 MW Mpumalanga wind farm which spans around 27,000 ha of farmland, will come online in 2025. Over the next three years, construction on the remaining 745 MW also will begin.

According to Peter Venn, CEO of Seriti Green and formerly MD of Windlab, the company expects the turbines to be able to run at a capacity factor of 40%. This implies that it will outperform Eskom’s nearby Tutuka power station which runs at an energy availability factor of less than 20%.

Noteworthy, the 900 MW Mpumalanga wind farm will feature 800 MWh of battery storage. 

Mpumalanga Wind Farm to Support Seriti Green’s Coal Mining Decarbonization Ambition

In a bid to diversify its green energy, Seriti Resources, one of the major coal suppliers to Eskom, through its subsidiary, Seriti Green, finalized an R892 million deal in December 2022. This deal led to the acquisition of the majority of the 4 GW portfolio of wind power and solar power assets owned by Windlab Africa.

The company revealed that the majority of the projects would be in South Africa, especially in Mpumalanga which is already home to many of the company’s coal assets. Even though there is a lot of doubt regarding investing in wind power in Mpumalanga, Venn believes that the Mpumalanga wind farm project will be fruitful.