South Africa’s R89-billion wind power boom

Over the past decade, South Africa’s wind industry has attracted more than R89 billion in investments, creating over 23,000 jobs and powering over three million homes annually.

This is according to the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), the country’s only wind energy association.

It said Africa’s manufacturing output is expected to grow by more than 6% annually until at least 2025, amplifying the need for a robust and sustainable energy supply.

South Africa is at the forefront of this transformation, with its wind industry growing rapidly.

SAWEA explained that in the first quarter of 2024, wind technology accounted for 4.9% of the electricity produced, making it the leading renewable energy technology in South Africa. 

According to Statista, South Africa’s wind energy capacity increased from 257 MW in 2013 to 3,442 MW in 2023. 

Mordor Intelligence estimated that the wind energy market in South Africa is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 3% from 2024 to 2029.

Additionally, the country’s Integrated Resource Plan envisions adding 14,400 MW of wind power in South Africa by 2030, significantly boosting renewable energy generation.

Major wind farm developments are happening in South Africa, raking in billions of rands in investments and creating thousands of jobs.

Earlier this year, Seriti Green started building the country’s largest wind farm in Mpumalanga. This R25 billion wind farm project is set to create 800 new jobs, according to the company’s head of green energy, Peter Venn.

The group plans to build 900 MW of renewable wind energy projects over the next three years, the first phase of which will be the 155 MW Ummbila Emoyeni facility.

Construction on the facility is currently underway and is expected to be completed in mid-2026. It will cost just under R5 billion.

“The wind industry’s future in South Africa is promising, with job growth projections closely tied to the sector’s expansion,” Santosh Sookgrim, Senior Technical Advisor at SAWEA, said. 

Local manufacturing, such as Nordex’s new concrete tower facility in the Eastern Cape, highlights the sector’s commitment to job creation and localisation.

He explained that as the demand for renewable energy rises, so will the need for a skilled workforce. Specifically, there is an increasing demand for skilled engineers, project managers, environmental experts, and data analysts.

“The wind industry requires a blend of technical, policy, legal and environmental expertise across the full value chain.”

Technological developments — including advanced monitoring and control systems, AI-driven maintenance and avifaunal detection systems — are further driving job creation in the wind sector. The industry is also expanding in data analysis and software development.

“We are seeing an increasing need for professionals in monitoring and control systems, AI-based maintenance and data analysis,” Sookgrim said.

Wind farms also contribute significantly to local communities, funding initiatives within a 50 km radius of their sites as part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

In terms of the REIPPPP, the government procures energy, mostly wind and solar PV, from independent power producers.

He explained that as a result of this programme, the price of wind energy has steadily decreased since it first entered the market just over a decade ago.

These initiatives are also meant to foster community development and include educational support, food security programs, healthcare services and community safety projects.

“However, challenges such as regulatory hurdles, grid integration and the need for continuous innovation remain.”

“These challenges need to be addressed through strategic planning, enhanced training programmes, policies that support sustainable growth and collaboration between industry and government.”

“By investing in technological innovation, skills development and community engagement, the wind industry can be a catalyst for transformative economic and environmental change,” Sookgrim concluded.

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This article was first published by Daily Investor and is reproduced with permission.