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The first sod was turned today for the R2.2bn Dorper Wind Farm between Molteno and Sterkstroom in the Eastern Cape.
The wind farm, located in the Inkwanca Local Municipality, is an onshore wind energy facility that will consist of 40 wind turbines, each with a generating capacity of 2.5MW.
Gavin James, the executive director of Rainmaker Energy, one of the companies involved in the joint project, says job creation is one of the most important aspects of the project.
"This marks the onset of a definitive new era for both South Africa and the Eastern Cape, and we are immensely excited to be at the forefront," said James.
"Power and access to this incredible resource will define the growth path of South Africa for years to come. The significance of government's focus on diversifying the power base through moving from a reliance on traditional power sources to emergent and renewable energy will ensure that the power grid is supplemented by solar and wind energy, which will in turn cut costs and enables our country's socio-economic and industrial development," added Rainmaker Energy Executive Director, Luke Callcott-Stevens.
A high level delegation from Japan and Germany as well as national and provincial government were in attendance.
"Sumitomo Corporation regards renewable energy as one of core business area and is proactively fostering its wind, biomass, and solar photovoltaic power generation businesses both within and outside Japan," said Hideki Yamano, General Manager of Wind Power and Water Infrastructure Business Department from Sumitomo Corporation.
The Japanese firm is in line to claim itself as a strategic investor in several wind projects in the United States, China and Japan. These include the 845MW Caithness Shepherds Flat wind farm project in the United States, which is one of the world's largest wind farms.
