Wind Energy

The big awakening of Africa wind power generation

South Africa, Cape Verde, Israel, Lebanon, Nigeria, Jordan and Kenya combined only have 32 MW of wind energy. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, wind farm project development is slowly but firmly under way in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

There is no doubt that South Africa with its well developed infrastructure and industries will be the gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa. Ninety percent of South Africa’s electricity needs are generated from coal with the remaining 10% met by nuclear, natural gas, hydro and renewable energy sources.

However, South Africa’s integrated resource plan envisions that in 20 years 42% of all new electricity capacity will be from renewable energy projects.

Department of Energy announced in Durban its bidding process round result on 8th of December at COP 17, there are 18 photovoltaic solar energy projects (total 632MW), 2 Concentrated Solar Power projects (total 150 MW), 8 wind farm projects (total 643 MW).

No Developer -Project name -Capacity- WTG supplier
1 BTE Dassieklip 26.19 MW Sinovel
2 Metrowind Metrowind 26.19 MW Sinovel
3 Macquarie Hopefield 65.4 MW Suzlon
4 SARGE Noblesfontein 72.75 MW Vestas
5 Redcap Redcap 77.6 MW Nordex
6 Rainmaker Dorper 97 MW Vestas
7 Mainstream Jeffreys bay 133.86 MW Siemens
8 Macquarie Cookhouse 135 MW Suzlon

It was indicated that there will be more than 3,500 MW wind farm projects submitted in the second bidding round in March 2012.

By Hermann Oelsner, President, AfriWEA, www.afriwea.org