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Cape Town - A call has been made for the South African government to increase targets for renewable energy from their Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
This follows a three day fact finding trip to the Eastern Cape by senior executives from one of Germany’s leading wind farm developers.
South Africa is already recognised as the fastest growing renewable energy market within the G20 group of major economies with an annual target to permit 1000 MW of renewable power.
The executives from PNE Wind believe there is scope for the government to increase that target still further as that will create even more domestic demand to encourage the manufacture of turbines and blades.
During their trip Martin Billhardt, chair of PNE Wind AG and Dieter Kuprian, chair of the Supervisory Board of WKN AG and PNE Wind AG, visited two sites where they’re planning to construct wind farms at Unbunthu and Banna Ba Pifhu in the Kouga area of the Eastern Cape with joint venture partners Windcurrent SA.
They then met with Roland Herrmann, the German consul general in Cape Town, to discuss investment opportunities.
“This has been a very informative visit. It is obvious there are
many opportunities to invest in South Africa and we are keen to increase our stake in the country’s fast growing renewable industry," Billhardt said after the meeting.
“The government has set an ambitious target under their IRP, but I think they can go still further as that will encourage further investment in turbine manufacturing and help to create more jobs.”
The team from PNE intend to return to South Africa next year with a larger delegation to follow up on the investment opportunities they have identified.
- Fin24
This follows a three day fact finding trip to the Eastern Cape by senior executives from one of Germany’s leading wind farm developers.
South Africa is already recognised as the fastest growing renewable energy market within the G20 group of major economies with an annual target to permit 1000 MW of renewable power.
The executives from PNE Wind believe there is scope for the government to increase that target still further as that will create even more domestic demand to encourage the manufacture of turbines and blades.
During their trip Martin Billhardt, chair of PNE Wind AG and Dieter Kuprian, chair of the Supervisory Board of WKN AG and PNE Wind AG, visited two sites where they’re planning to construct wind farms at Unbunthu and Banna Ba Pifhu in the Kouga area of the Eastern Cape with joint venture partners Windcurrent SA.
They then met with Roland Herrmann, the German consul general in Cape Town, to discuss investment opportunities.
“This has been a very informative visit. It is obvious there are
many opportunities to invest in South Africa and we are keen to increase our stake in the country’s fast growing renewable industry," Billhardt said after the meeting.
“The government has set an ambitious target under their IRP, but I think they can go still further as that will encourage further investment in turbine manufacturing and help to create more jobs.”
The team from PNE intend to return to South Africa next year with a larger delegation to follow up on the investment opportunities they have identified.
- Fin24
