The first phase of South Africa’s largest wind farm cluster has officially entered commercial operation, marking a significant step in the country’s Just Energy Transition. Developed by Seriti Green and powered by 25 Goldwind GWH182-6.2 MW smart wind turbines, Phase One of the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm has a total capacity of 155 MW. With a rotor diameter of 183.5 meters, the project features the largest rotor diameter among all operational wind projects in South Africa to date.
The Ummbila complex is being developed as an integrated renewable energy hub comprising 750 MW of wind power, 150 MW of solar PV, and 800 MWh of energy storage. Following the commissioning of Phase One, construction of Phases Two and Three is underway, with full completion targeted for 2027, establishing the cluster as a key part of South Africa’s clean energy transition.
President Ramaphosa described the project as an important milestone for South Africa’s Just Energy Transition and national sustainable development agenda. He praised Goldwind as the wind turbine solution provider behind the successful delivery of the project, noting that the facility is helping guide the country’s economy and society toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future while supporting South Africa’s domestic and international sustainability commitments.
Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng congratulated the project on reaching this milestone, describing it as a strong example of practical and productive cooperation between China and South Africa.
Peter Venn, CEO of Seriti Green, highlighted Goldwind’s important contribution to the project’s success, describing the company as a long-term partner and expressing his expectation for deeper cooperation during future project phases.
During the ceremony, Goldwind and Seriti Green also signed a cooperation agreement for Phase Four, further strengthening their long-term strategic partnership.
Goldwind Deputy Chairman and President Cao Zhigang thanked the South African government, the Chinese Embassy, Seriti Green, and all project partners. He said that Phase One achieving commercial operation ahead of schedule demonstrates the trust and open cooperation established among the partners. He also noted that the project delivers reliable power, supports infrastructure investment, creates local jobs, and contributes to community development, adding that Goldwind’s commitment extends beyond clean energy to a long-term presence in South Africa.
As the first wind project in Mpumalanga Province, the Ummbila complex successfully completed rigorous provincial and national grid connection tests during full-site synchronization, demonstrating the grid adaptability of the GWH182-6.2 MW turbines. The turbines feature customized engineering designed for the province’s high-altitude wind conditions and frequent thunderstorms.
The turbines are equipped with an intelligent control platform that integrates health diagnostics, load adaptation, and grid-friendly technologies to protect both the equipment and the power grid under extreme weather conditions.
During the construction of Phase One, more than 1,200 jobs were created, while peak employment across the full cluster is expected to reach 2,000. The project is expected to generate approximately 480,000 MWh of electricity annually, enough to supply around 500,000 households, while reducing approximately 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. With more than 50% of wind-sector roles sharing skills with the coal sector, the project provides a practical pathway for local workers transitioning from fossil fuels.
Goldwind has established a local SCADA monitoring center and spare-parts hub providing 24/7 operations and maintenance support. In 2025, the company also opened a Solution Factory in Cape Town for GWO safety training, drone blade inspections, and predictive maintenance.
Source: Goldwind
