Humansdorp new home of Nordex Energy SA manufacturing facility
Nordex Energy SA has announced plans to locally manufacture concrete wind turbine tower sections in Humansdorp with the creation of up to 300 jobs.
The manufacturing facility will be situated in the town and responsible for producing 120m-high towers for three wind farms with an installed capacity of 336MW.
Operations at the manufacturing plant are set to begin as early as May.
The installation of the first turbines is set for the second half of the year, with energy delivery to the grid anticipated in the second half of 2025, solidifying the region’s position as one of SA’s most prominent wind power zones on the renewable energy map — boasting a total of 13 wind farms.
Nordex Energy SA’s head of sales for Africa, David Moncasi Hortet, said the greenfield project promised to stimulate the local economy throughout its operational period, fostering job creation, skills development and socioeconomic growth.
“The wind farm cluster will elevate the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix, contributing to energy security and a reduction in greenhouse emissions,” he said.
“Additionally, it will enhance our market presence in SA, where we currently command more than 32% of market share, operating more than 1.1GW, predominantly in the Eastern Cape.”
After its initial investment in the Eastern Cape in 2013, Nordex Energy SA now has a significant footprint in the province, including a warehouse in Gqeberha and 573MW of installed capacity across five wind power plants.
“The province is already an important hub for us as we have a head office here as well as a warehouse, in addition to the numerous wind farms,” Hortet said.
“We are invested long-term and hence we are pleased to have had the chance to discuss constraints with key stakeholders, which are charged with unlocking the associated benefits for the Eastern Cape.”
The most recent investment aligns with a previous delegation from the Eastern Cape government to Nordex SE in Germany. Nordex Energy SA has five of its nine wind farms in the region.