The South African Wind Energy Project – Leading SA Wind Energy Development
The South African Wind Energy Project (SAWEP) is a multi-year technical assistance project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and supported by the United Nations Development Programme Country Office (UNDP). The South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is the SAWEP executing entity.
SAWEP supports the government of South Africa in promoting the large-scale commercialisation of wind energy.
A Project Management Unit (PMU) consisting of a SAWEP Project Manager at SANEDI (South African National Energy Development Institute) and DMRE Project Manager: Renewable Energy Initiatives provides secretariat, coordination and overall management functions and tasks.
The PMU reports to the SAWEP Project Steering Committee which include the DMRE (Chair), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department Higher Education and Training (DHET), Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), UNDP, SANEDI.
SAWEP has been rolled out in phased approach and includes the following milestones and components:
SAWEP Phase 1 (2007 – 2010)
• “Green Power Guarantee Fund” that supported the City of Cape town 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Darling Wind Power Company (South Africa’s 1st Wind IPP).
• WASA Phase 1: First Large-Scale High-Resolution Wind Resource map (250 m grid spacing).
• Supported the establishment of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA).
SAWEP Phase 2 (2015 – 2019)
Implementation of SAWEP 2 commenced in August 2016 and has four main components:
• Component 1: Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of local content requirements.
• Component 2: Resource-mapping and wind corridor development support for policymakers.
• Component 3: Support for the development of the small-scale wind sector.
• Component 4: Training and human capital development for the wind energy sector.
For further information please refer to www.sawep.co.za and www.wasaproject.info
