Page 34 - Energize November 2022

VIEWS AND OPINION

limits the initial production to a single model, which in turn
limits the viability of a project.
However it is unlikely that an international wind turbine
manufacturer would consider parts of a turbine to be
outsourced to local manufacture while the balance is done
overseas. The only viable solution would be to establish
a company that makes the blades and obtains the other
components from local sources.
SA has a large wind turbine manufacturing facility. IWEC
Renewable Energy, a company established in 2012 and still
going, has the technical capacity, material and machinery, to
manufacture 2,5 MW wind turbines, based on a design from
Aerodyn Energiesysteme in Germany. A blade manufacturing
facility has been established in Cape Town and has been in use
since 2012 (see Figure 2). The facility moved to Saldhana Bay in
2018. So far two turbine units have been completed. The size
of the turbine, at 2,5 MW, is considered eminently suitable for
large hybrid systems, which would require a small number of
units (size, construction, installation etc), and the company has
the ability to handle small orders. With support, the company
could establish a presence in the African wind energy market.
Both of these industries would benefit from support.
There are also companies capable of manufacturing
towers for the wind turbines, although the Dorbyl plant in
PE is in stasis, due to lack of orders. Nonetheless, it has been
demonstrated that the capability to manufacture is there.

Figure 3: IWEC Wind turbine blade manufacturing facility

Industry opinion
Most companies offering renewable energy products approached
at a recent exhibition were of the opinion that local manufacture
would depend on support from the government in terms of a
strong policy package favouring local manufacture. Perhaps the
cost of the locally produced product represents the real price.

Reference
1. Department of Trade and Industry: “The wind energy industry
localisation roadmap in support of large scale roll out in
South Africa”, Integrated final report, 2015.

Figure 2: Cast PCS slab and PCS bricks (PV education) Send your comments to rogerl@nowmedia.co.za

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