Minister Winde Visits One of SA's First Commercial Wind Farms

Construction is on track at one of South Africa’s first commercial wind farms, the Hopefield Wind Farm, with project completion scheduled for early next year. Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, conducted a site visit at the farm today (6 August 2013).

Installation of the first turbines started last month. With 37 wind turbines, the farm is expected to produce enough energy for 70 000 low-income homes.

Minister Winde was hosted by Umoya Energy, the company established to develop the Hopefield project, and Vestas Southern Africa, the international firm responsible for the wind farm construction, turbine supply and maintenance of the project for the first 15 years.

During his visit, Minister Winde also met with shareholders, the Hopefield Wind Farm Local Community Company. This non-profit company, comprising community members, owns a 5% stake of the farm and will channel funds from the farm into development projects within the local community.

One of the Hopefield Wind Local Community Company’s first projects, starting in 2014, will be the provision of solar geysers to underprivileged families in Hopefield. Minister Winde said he was pleased that a portion of the profits were being reinvested into Hopefield as this would make a positive impact in the community.

The project has already delivered direct benefits for local communities in terms of job creation.

“At this site alone, 217 residents have been employed and more opportunities will be created as the project continues. The Western Cape Government views the green economy as a major sector for growth and job creation. We estimate that it could create jobs for 12 000 people by 2015, increasing to 16 000 by 2020 and to 20 000 by 2025. When we see these kinds of numbers, we can begin to understand the importance of this sector for our region. That is why, among other initiatives including the 110% Green Project, we support Green Cape, a sector development body aimed at promoting the development of the green economy in our province,” said Minister Winde.

Vestas Southern Africa has started recruiting full-time staff and selected candidates will travel to Europe for training. “This training will ensure that they become specialists in this field, a title that will stand them in good stead going into the future. There is potential for these trained individuals to pass the knowledge on to others back home,” said Winde.

The Hopefield Wind Farm was awarded a Power Purchase Agreement in Round One of the National Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. This programme promotes the development of renewable energy projects in South Africa.

Minister Winde said over the next three years the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, in conjunction with Wesgro, wants to attract R1 billion of new investment into the green economy. This goal received a major boost with the R10 million cash injection from the UK-based Shoney Wind. The deal with Shoney Venture Holdings will create 20 jobs. Minister Winde added another major announcement on foreign investment in the sector is expected soon.

“The renewable energy space is an exciting area in the Western Cape. We are an attractive region for international investors and we’re well on our way to becoming Africa’s green economic hub. We support this sector because we know that it can provide our people with opportunities to become employed.”