Seriti Green, a subsidiary of Seriti – a major coal supplier – is advancing plans for a 900 MW wind farm in Mpumalanga, placing its bets on a region thought to be lacking in sufficient wind energy.

Speaking at the Energy Intensive Users Group conference, alongside the inaugural C&I Solar & Storage Summit at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton from November 19-20, Seriti Green’s Economic Development Manager, Janice Finlay, said the project, announced in February, is built on the idea that coal and renewable energy can work side-by-side.

“We’ve faced scepticism about building a wind farm inland instead of using the stronger coastal wind resources,” she said. “However, Mpumalanga’s wind potential lies at higher altitudes and we’re leveraging innovative technology to harness it effectively.”

The company is installing wind turbines measuring 130 to 165 metres in height – among the tallest in South Africa. These turbines are significantly taller than the 90 metre average and are expected to optimise energy generation.

With artificial intelligence assistance, Seriti determined the most promising wind locations without physical surveys. “Using this tool, we uncovered the potential for wind energy in the province,” Finlay said.

The wind farm will supply 75% of the electricity needed by Seriti’s Mpumalanga coal mines and local communities. “Having wind energy on site reduces the mine’s reliance on Eskom and lowers energy costs while contributing to the decarbonisation of the industry,” added Finlay.

Seriti Green will also build a substation 5 km outside the nearest town to regulate and integrate electricity from the wind farm into the grid. On completion, ownership and operational responsibility for the substation will be transferred to Eskom.

The ambitious project spans three municipal areas, requiring extensive collaboration with local authorities. Seriti Green is also implementing infrastructure improvements to support the transportation of turbine components, including blades larger than rugby fields and a 210 tonne transformer. “The transformer we need will be on its way any day now,” said Finlay, noting the logistical complexity of transporting such large equipment. Seriti Green is upgrading roads to facilitate the movement of these components, she said.

The project’s impact will extend beyond Seriti’s operations, delivering benefits on a national, regional and local scale, Finlay said. “We want to make Mpumalanga a renewable energy hub. It was an energy hub in the early days of coal. We want to realise the full potential of wind energy in the province.”