Renewable Energy

Molteno Wind Farm Small2

High and fluctuating electricity and energy prices contribute to the renewable energy sector becoming a fast growing sector in South Africa. Various environmental policy drivers (including possible South African carbon tax scheme) add to the sector generating high investor interest. In recent years the Eastern Cape Province has been touted a leader in equipment production and skills transfer in the renewable energy sphere.

Especially wind farming has seen developments on various sites throughout the Eastern Cape. This includes the

For more information on sustainable energy programmes in the Eastern Cape, take a look at the Eastern Cape’s Sustainable Energy information hub.

Renewable energy at the East London Industrial Development Zone

All the miniature successes achieved through the years and continued strides made within the field by the province have been through the leadership and collaboration with some of the development prone companies such as the ELIDZ. The company tasked with attracting much needed economic development to the Border region and the rest of the province, has identified the supply of clean green power as the new frontier and is implementing strategies in this regard. A variety of technologies are targeted: wind, solar biofuel and gas.

The ELIDZ has already attracted ILB Helios, a PV Solar panel manufacturing plant.

The ELIDZ’s strategy in terms of renewable energy sector is two pronged, the zone is targeting investors both in renewable manufacturing as well as the production and transfer of renewable energy.

The zone aims to lead by example as it is currently busy trying to start greening its own electricity supply initially focusing on solar energy, wind and biomass, but not excluding any other technologies that could show promise.

As part of this initiative the ELIDZ has partnered with the Master Artisan Academy of South Africa (MAASA) and is currently implementing a skills training programme at artisan level in renewable energy technologies.

Investment opportunities in pre-packaged projects

• Municipal Waste-to-energy
• Landfill Gas
• Municipal Sewerage Works Biodigester
• Biomass Gasification Plant

ELIDZ Wind Farm

• 6 Adventure Power 300kW Wind Turbines
• Installed Capacity of 1.8MW
• Turbines to produce 3 090MWh per annum
• 62 Construction jobs and 15 permanent jobs to be created over 20 years
• The wind farm will be for ELIDZ use alone and can offset all internal energy consumption (of the
IDZ alone) which will make it South Africa’s first “Green” IDZ

Science and Technology Park

The ELIDZ incorporates a Science and Technology Park offering research and networking infrastructure for start-up businesses in the ELIDZ. For the renewable energy sector, the following projects are being implemented at present:

• Twerley
• Heat Raider
• Solar Water Desalinization
• Renewable Energy Centre
• Master Artisan Training Academy – Renewable Energy