- Impofu North has reached commercial operation as the first project within the 330 MW Impofu Wind Power Farms Complex which began construction in March 2024.
- The wind energy cluster will supply renewable electricity to Sasol and Air Liquide through a wheeling agreement with Eskom.
- The project supports South Africa’s decarbonisation goals and powers operations at Air Liquide’s oxygen production facility in Secunda.
Enel Green Power South Africa has announced the commercial operation of Impofu North, the first wind farm within its 330 MW Impofu Wind Power Farms Complex in the Eastern Cape. The milestone marks a significant step forward in one of South Africa’s largest private renewable energy developments, which will supply clean electricity to industrial customers Sasol and Air Liquide.
Impofu North forms part of the broader Impofu cluster, which also includes the Impofu East and Impofu West wind farms. Together, the three projects will generate up to 330 MW of renewable energy from 57 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5.8 MW.
Electricity generated by the wind farms is transmitted through a network comprising eight high voltage substations and 120 km of 132 kV overhead transmission lines. The power is then wheeled through the Eskom grid to Sasol’s Secunda operations in Mpumalanga, where Air Liquide operates the world’s largest oxygen production facility.
Beyond power generation, Enel Green Power South Africa is also seeking to strengthen community engagement around the project. The company recently launched the Blowing Art Initiative at the Impofu Wind Farm, transforming selected wind turbines into large scale public artworks that celebrate local culture and identity.
Under the theme “People are Energy”, South African artists Falko, Motel and Bushy created colourful murals on the lower sections of selected turbines. The artworks are intended to reflect themes of unity, heritage and community participation while reinforcing the role of renewable energy in building a more sustainable future.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
