Siemens Energy forays into South Africa, secures 138MW contract

Siemens Energy secured a contract to deliver 60 wind turbines for the 138 MW Jeffrey’s Bay wind power plant in South Africa, marking the company’s entry into the country’s wind power sector.

Each turbine has a 2.3MW capacity and a rotor diameter of 101m, which Siemens will also service over an initial period of ten years.

The wind farm is owned by a consortium of companies including Mainstream Renewable Power, its investment partner Globeleq, Thebe Investment Corporation and the local engineering firms Enzani Technologies and Usizo Engineering.

The South African government seeks to develop additional projects, amounting to a power generation capacity of 20,000MW, from renewable energy sources by 2030.

Siemens currently holds 16 orders for more than 270 onshore wind turbines totaling 730MW from Europe and South Africa since July 2012.

The total volume of this order is worth over €880m and encompasses supply, installation and services.

Siemens Energy wind power division CEO Felix Ferlemann stated that electricity produced from wind power will make a significant contribution worldwide to ecofriendly power supply in the future.

"The orders from Europe and our market entry in South Africa clearly demonstrate that we are continuing along the right path, also with our onshore business," added Ferlemann.