The regulatory bodies in South Africa have approved the building of Hive Hydrogen South Africa’s record-sized Carissa Wind Energy Facility, located near Beaufort West in the Western Cape. South Africa has been exploring methods to reduce the reliance on the nation’s ageing conventional coal facilities in favor of the renewable energy sector. The facility represents the largest permitted wind farm in the country and has accelerated the transition away from fossil fuels towards the renewable energy sector in a nation plagued by regular blackouts.

The facility in the Western Cape is a transformative step in the country’s renewable energy transition

For far too long, the citizens of South Africa have faced regular blackouts as a result of the country’s ageing coal infrastructure, which never got the substantial upgrades that were necessary in order to meet the rise in power demands in what is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa.

At its peak, “loadshedding”, as it’s known in South Africa, would last for up to 16 hours a day in some parts of the Rainbow Nation. Following significant public backlash, the government needed to fast-track any projects that could alleviate the pressure on the country’s electricity grid.

The Carissa Wind Energy Facility has the potential to do just that. The site will consist of 154 wind turbines with a combined capacity of up to 1,000 MW. The successful permitting of the facility in Nelson Mandela Bay is a direct result of an unprecedented partnership between several key stakeholders, namely:

• Hive Hydrogen (the Coega Green Ammonia project sponsor, which is the committed off-taker)
• AMDA Developments (the project developer)
• Blue Crane Environmental, the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) responsible for leading the rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process

“We are delighted that our Carissa Wind Project has achieved this major milestone. We have been constantly impressed by the professionalism, thoroughness and efficiency of the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by Blue Crane and managed by AMDA. The quality of the studies is outstanding and the specialists engaged were exceptional. This concludes the EIA work on all of the Hive Hydrogen’s 3300MW of renewable energy assets and the R105bn Coega Green Ammonia project can now commence with its Front End Engineering Design. The project remains on track to start construction in early 2027 with a commissioning date in December 2029. Congratulations to all involved” – Thulani Gcabashe, Chairman of Hive Hydrogen South Africa

The approval given by the South African government underscores the seamless cooperation in the sector

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) reportedly endorsed the process undertaken that ensures an accelerated time frame for approving the project. It granted the required Environmental Approval within a streamlined timeframe under the project’s Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP) status.

“This authorisation is the outcome of true teamwork. Our close coordination with specialists and AMDA’s development team ensured every aspect of the project was carefully considered, with responsible development at the forefront. This well-managed process is something we are extremely proud of.” – Marélie Botha and Lisa de Lange, Directors of Blue Crane Environmental

South Africa’s accelerated approval process is in sharp contrast to the UK, which has revealed its plans to review the extensive auctioning of wind farms in the nation.

South Africa aims to become a global leader in the energy transition process being undertaken by the world

The approval granted by the South African government underscores the need to fast-track the permitted wind farms across the world. South Africa is not known, especially among locals, for its seamless bureaucratic processes; however, the approval of the site in the Western Cape represents a new approach to the energy sector in South Africa. The growth of the wind sector has faced significant hurdles in recent months, especially in Europe. Regardless, South Africa has positioned itself as a benchmark for the cooperative narrative that is needed in the energy sector.