Wind Energy — Complementing Solar for 24/7 Generation

Solar alone can't power a 21st-century economy. The sun doesn't always shine, but the wind often blows when it's dark. That's why hybrid facilities like Nkangala combine wind, solar, and battery storage.

South Africa's wind sector is booming. By the end of 2025, the country remained Africa's largest wind market with more than 4 gigawatts of operational capacity, approximately 2.8 gigawatts under construction, and a development pipeline exceeding 60 gigawatts. Over 63 wind projects totaling nearly 7 gigawatts had been procured by October 2025.

The IRP 2025 pathway charts 43 gigawatts of wind capacity by 2042, requiring an average build rate of 2.7 gigawatts per year. For Sonani, the wind component uses approximately 15 hectares of the 275-hectare site, integrated seamlessly with solar and BESS to deliver reliable dispatchable power to Eskom and industrial offtakers in the Nkangala District.