Nordex Energy South Africa (NESA), the South African subsidiary of German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex has announced that it has secured orders for the supply of 830MW in wind turbines in the country.
The wind turbine manufacturer will supply 50 Nordex 5.9MW turbines with a total capacity of 295 MW to EDF Renewables, for their Korosun 2 cluster consisting of the Umsobomvu, and Hartebeesthoek projects, in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces.
Additionally, Nordex will supply 57 Nordex WTG Delta4000 series turbines for a R9-billion cluster of three wind farms in the Eastern Cape with a combined capacity of 336MW, which will make for the largest purely private renewable energy facility in South Africa.
The turbines for all the projects are expected to start feeding wind generated electricity into South Africa’s energy grid by mid-2025. This will represent an increase of 75% for Nordex from its current generation capacity in operation.
Nordex currently has a total installed capacity of more than 1GW, making it the market leader with 32% market share of the total installed wind capacity in South Africa.
“Our increased commitment in South Africa, including a significant addition to our order book and growing market share, demonstrates our confidence in the renewable energy sector here. We’re focused on adding valuable energy resources to the country’s grid and supporting the broader shift towards sustainable energy, and delivering jobs,” said David Moncasi Hortet, Head of Sales, Africa, at Nordex Energy South Africa (NESA).
Local manufacturing and skills development
The wind turbine manufacturer also plans to locally manufacture concrete tower sections in the Eastern Cape Province. This is expected to create up to 300 new jobs within the Eastern Cape region.
Approximately 1,400 keystones conforming the 57 towers will be produced locally at a newly established manufacturing facility in Humansdorp, situated around 1.5 hours from the Port of Ngqura. This facility, dedicated to fabricating the 120m high towers, is expected to begin operations by June 2024, with the initial turbine installations scheduled for the latter second half of 2024.
Nordex is tasked with the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of these wind farms throughout their 20-year lifespan, underscoring the demand for skilled personnel in the sector.
“To address the skills gap and meet market demands, we’ve introduced new generation technology that enhances unitary power and initiated an Internship Programme to build a pipeline of future technicians. We are committed to ongoing dialogue and collaboration with key stakeholders to further skills development within the industry,” stated Zelrese Brair, Head of People and Culture at NESA.
To ensure the successful implementation of these projects, Nordex’s local construction operations team has undergone comprehensive training in Spain on the company’s latest wind turbine technology platform. The company says the preparation is essential for meeting the anticipated growth of South Africa’s wind sector and its commitment to providing robust construction expertise and support for the country’s renewable energy ambitions.
