- 330 MW wind project reaches full commercial operation in the Eastern Cape.
- South Africa’s largest privately built transmission line enables renewable energy wheeling to Secunda.
- Project strengthens private sector renewable energy supply for Sasol and Air Liquide while supporting local economic development.
Enel Green Power RSA has reached commercial operation of its 330 MW Impofu Wind Farm cluster in the Eastern Cape, strengthening South Africa’s commercial and industrial renewable energy market and expanding private sector electricity supply through long term power purchase agreements.
The project consists of three 110 MW wind farms, Impofu North, Impofu East and Impofu West, located across the Kouga and Nelson Mandela Bay municipalities. Construction began in 2024, with Impofu North becoming the first facility to enter commercial operation, followed by Impofu East and Impofu West in May and June.
A key component of the development was the construction of a 116 km, 132 kV high voltage transmission line, now the largest privately built power line in South Africa. The line enables renewable electricity generated at the site to be delivered through a wheeling arrangement, allowing power to be transmitted across the national grid from a private generator to commercial customers.
The Impofu Wind Farm cluster supplies renewable electricity under three long term power purchase agreements with Sasol South Africa and Air Liquide South Africa. The electricity is wheeled to Sasol’s Secunda operations in Mpumalanga, where Air Liquide operates the world’s largest oxygen production facility.
Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President of Business Building, Strategy and Technology at Sasol, said the project represents a major milestone in the company’s renewable energy programme.
“The 330 MW Impofu Wind Farm cluster represents a significant step towards our target of securing up to 2 GW of renewable energy by 2030. With Impofu now operational, Sasol’s online renewable energy capacity exceeds 500 MW, while a further 700 MW is under construction. Renewable energy is a critical first step in enabling the production of lower carbon and more sustainable products at scale.”
Pillay added that the partnership between Sasol, Air Liquide and Enel Green Power demonstrates how collaboration can unlock new generation capacity, improve South Africa’s energy security and reduce industrial carbon emissions.
Nicolas Poirot, Chief Executive Officer for Africa, Middle East and India at Air Liquide, said the project confirms that large scale industrial decarbonisation is becoming a reality in South Africa.
He said integrating wind energy into the company’s existing operations at Secunda significantly increases its renewable electricity capacity and supports Air Liquide’s target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions at the site by 30% to 40% by 2031.
Beyond electricity generation, the Impofu Wind Farm cluster includes ongoing investment in community development programmes aimed at supporting local economic growth, skills development and employment opportunities. Enel Green Power RSA said a locally based stakeholder relationship manager works with municipalities and community representatives to ensure development initiatives align with local priorities.
With the successful commissioning of the Impofu Wind Farm cluster, Enel Green Power RSA has become one of the first independent power producers in South Africa to conclude and operate large scale wind power purchase agreements for the commercial and industrial market, reinforcing the growing role of private sector investment in the country’s energy transition.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
