R5 billion wind farm now under construction in Mpumalanga – Hypertext

• Seriti Green and Energy Exchange of Southern Africa have financially closed on a massive wind energy project.
• The Seriti Green Ummbila Emoyeni wind energy project, located in Mpumalanga, is part of a wider push by the project’s namesake to drive renewable energy generation in South Africa.
• When complete, the wind project will generate 525GWh of energy every year.

Construction on the Seriti Green Ummbila Emoyeni wind energy project, located in Mpumalanga, is set to begin thanks to reaching financial close.

The R5 billion project is expected to start generating clean green energy as soon as October 2027and will cost a jaw-dropping R5 billion. The project brings together Seriti Green, an independent power producer, and Energy Exchange of Southern Africa (EXSA), which holds a Nersa trading licence. EXSA is also backed by Remgro and RMB.

When complete, the Seriti Green Ummbila Emoyeni wind energy project will generate 115MW of power, generating 525GWh of clean energy annually. The wind farm will house 25 turbines and is set to become one of the largest wind projects to reach financial close to date.

“Closing on the Seriti Green Ummbila Emoyeni project is a massive step forward for the EXSA business as we scale, with increased capacity moving forward with a stable pipeline of key projects that will unlock renewable energy solutions,” says Aishah Gire, chief operating officer at EXSA.

“Working with EXSA, allows us to expand our footprint in Mpumalanga. Supporting the electricity trading market drives generation growth which is excellent for the economy, social development and the Just Energy Transition” says Peter Venn, chief executive officer from Seriti Green.

This will also add to Seriti Green’s burgeoning renewable energy portfolio, which totals 2GW of wind and solar capacity. Its flagship project is Ummbila Emoyeni, which aims to produce 900MW from solar, wind, and battery storage. The project covers 27 000 hectares and involves agreements with numerous landowners. Seriti Green also integrates local communities into its projects through employment, training, and development initiatives.

The location, Mpumalanga, is also important as this is where the bulk of South Africa’s power production happens, and as such, much of the distribution infrastructure resides in the province. By placing renewable energy projects near or around this infrastructure, it’s easier to add power to the grid or wheel it.

“This agreement marks a new chapter for South Africa’s energy market where independent producers and traders can deliver reliable, clean power with long-term impact. The Just Energy Transition is about building a fair and dependable energy system. Partnerships like this bring that vision to life,” says Venn.

While Eskom has indicated that it is doing just fine these days, it does still depend heavily on dirty, coal-powered generation. Projects such as this wind farm are becoming increasingly vital as the world pushes toward renewable energy as the norm.