Name of the Project
Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm.

Location
Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Coal producer Seriti Resources and its renewable-energy subsidiary Seriti Green.

Project Description
Ummbila Emoyeni has been designated as a Strategic Integrated Project by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. The wind farm will be the first renewable-energy project to be developed in Mpumalanga.

The project forms part of the coal miner’s strategy of diversifying its offering in a sustainable way to play its role in the country’s just energy transition journey.

Phase 1 provides 155 MW of the planned 900 MW Ummbila Emoyeni renewable-energy complex.

The full project will comprise five wind farms, a solar PV generator and a battery storage facility, while construction also includes the largest new main transmission substation built in Mpumalanga for over 20 years. The integrated complex is planned to comprise 750 MW of wind generation and 150 MW of solar PV capacity.

Once built, the wind farm will result in more than 75% of the energy consumption from Seriti’s existing operations switching from coal to renewable energy, helping to mitigate its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse-gas emissions.

The overall project will also include 800 MWh of storage capacity. Phase 1 is expected to generate about 480 000 MWh/y, equivalent to the yearly electricity needs of about 500 000 households, and avoid about 400 000 t/y of CO2 emissions.

Potential Job Creation
By the end of July 2026, about 2 100 employees had contributed to the renewables project, including people drawn from the coal industry. Phase 1 construction created more than 1 200 jobs.

Capital Expenditure
Seriti had invested R15-billion in the wind project by July 2026 and signed a further R10-billion investment agreement with Standard Bank, taking the overall investment commitment to R25-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Construction of Phase 1 started in April 2023. The 155 MW phase entered commercial operation ahead of schedule in July 2026, with the milestone marked on July 31. Full completion of the Ummbila Emoyeni complex is targeted for 2027.

Latest Developments
The first 25 turbines, representing the 155 MW first phase, officially entered commercial operation in July 2026. The project is the first wind farm to operate in Mpumalanga and passed the required provincial and national grid tests.

Phases 2 and 3 are under construction, while Seriti Green and Goldwind have signed a cooperation agreement for Phase 4. Goldwind had installed 48 turbines across the site by July 2026, of which 25 were operating.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Vanguard (transport); Goldwind (engineering, procurement and construction contractor and turbine supplier in Phase 1); Stefanutti Stocks and Tractionel (construction and grid-connection infrastructure); Standard Bank and Rand Merchant Bank (equity investors); Energy Exchange, NOA and Etana Energy (power purchasers).

Contact Details for Project Information
Seriti Green, email info@seritigreen.com.