R25 billion wind farm project launches in South Africa
Seriti Green has launched the first phase of its R25 billion wind farm project in Mpumalanga.
The group plans to build 900MW of renewable wind energy projects over the next three years, with the first phase being the 155MW Ummbila Emoyeni facility.
Construction on the facility is currently underway and is expected to be completed in mid-2026, costing just under R5 billion.
The project is being funded by Seriti shareholders Standard Bank and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB).
The project is the first since Seriti Resources, one of South Africa’s largest coal miners, announced its acquisition of Windlab and the subsequent launch of Seriti Green in 2023.
Chairman of Seriti Green and Group CEO of Seriti Resources, Mike Teke and CEO of Seriti Green, Peter Venn noted that this is the biggest wind farm of its kind in South Africa and also the first in Mpumalanga.
It is anticipated that it will supply 75% of the power needs of Seriti’s coal mines, which will impact the group’s efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.
Other projects
Seriti’s Ummbila Emoyeni is just one of several new wind projects coming to South Africa.
Back in March, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) was appointed as a co-mandated lead arranger alongside Absa and Nedbank to provide debt funding and BEE equity funding for three large-scale wind farms in the Eastern Cape.
These projects will supply 330 MW to Sasol and Air Liquide’s operations in Secunda, Mpumalanga, under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement.
The project’s sponsor is the Enel Green Power RSA and Perpetua Holdings consortium.
Like Seriti, these projects are also expected to start operating in 2026, contributing towards the energy supply constraints in the country.
Sasol previously said that the 330 MW of renewable energy will be produced close to Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape and will be one of the largest wind-powered facilities in Southern Africa.
Despite the Eastern Cape’s massive wind potential, the lack of transmission infrastructure has often been highlighted as a major hindrance to the adaption of renewable energies in a country that relies on unreliable and dangerous coal-fired power stations.
The project’s expenditure thus includes the construction of a transmission line of 120 kilometres.
Boost for jobs
According to the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), wind is quickly becoming the leading renewable energy sector, accounting for 4.9% of the electricity produced In the first quarter of 2024.
The rapid expansion of the wind industry also introduces the need for a diverse array of skills and roles, such as 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. We are seeing an increasing need for professionals in monitoring and control systems, AI-based maintenance and data analysis.”
The group noted that, over the past decade, the sector has attracted investments exceeding R90 billion.
“Wind farms also contribute significantly to local communities, funding initiatives within a 50km radius of their sites as part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) programme,” it said.
“These initiatives include educational support, food security programs, healthcare services and community safety projects, fostering community development.”
“As the demand for renewable energy rises, so will the need for a skilled workforce,” it said.
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