Everywhere you go in Denmark, there are wind turbines slowly rotating away on top of tall towers, normally spread out in a line on the top of a hill, but also sometimes in the sea. Wind power is very big in Denmark, and, just as the country exports most of its wind power into the European power grid, it’s also exporting expertise and business acumen. To Africa.
The Danish government is assisting South Africa’s renewable energy programme and Danish companies are moving rapidly to take up opportunities as South Africa rolls out its private producers programme.
Vestas, which has installed nearly 20% of the world’s wind capacity, will supply wind turbines for three wind farms in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
South Africa is aiming for 1 800MW of wind power by 2015 and private companies and consortiums are engaged in a three-phase bidding process to win the right to supply power to the grid.
Another big Danish company, LM Wind Power, announced in September 2013 that it was looking for a site somewhere along the southern coast of South Africa to manufacture the blades that drive wind turbines.
The Coega Industrial Development Zone in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (which includes Port Elizabeth) has a strong suit in renewable energy and is a likely site for the new manufacturing plant.
The LM Wind Power announcement comes at a time when the South African government is very keen to use the renewable energy programme to kick-start a new manufacturing programme. Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies told the Living Planet Conference in November that the green economy is vital to South Africa’s growth, and to creating employment. LM Wind Power estimates that 300 jobs will be created once their plant is fully functional.
South African company DCD Group has won an award from the South African Wind Energy Associaton for its contribution to raising local content in the renewable energy sector. DCD's R300-million wind tower manufacturing plant at the Coega IDZ. The Coega Development Corporation and the national body, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) are partners in the venture.
Wind Atlas
In announcing an aid agreement to help South Africa develop a wind atlas, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said, “This is a tangible agreement, as it will develop our countries in a new and greener way, which is very crucial for the future.’
Renewables are very much part of Denmark’s future, with the country aiming to generate ever-increasing amounts of power from carbon-free sources.
Denmark will also assist state utility Eskom with technical advice on how to integrate renewable energy into the national grid.
Thorning-Schmidt’s visit to South Africa coincided with the launch of a new strategy for Danish engagement with South Africa and Africa. The ‘Opportunity Africa’ initiative aims to co-ordinate foreign policy, development co-operation and trade and investment into a cohesive and effective strategy.
Denmark had a strong presence at the WINDaba conference held in Cape Town in October, with 40 companies joining Ambassador Rene Dinesen and representatives of the Danish Trade Council.
The Wind Atlas of South Africa project is a very tangible expression of Danish support for the wind industry in South Africa. Through the Danish Energy Association, the Danish government is providing financial assistance to the effort to map wind patterns so that the resource can best be exploited.
