Onshore wind energy company Nordex Group has appointed Robert Timmers as the new MD for Nordex Energy South Africa (NESA).

He returns to South Africa after successfully leading Nordex Australia as MD and overseeing the supply and commissioning of a 1 GW wind farm project, which is the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere.

Timmers has more than a decade of experience in the wind energy sector. He returns at an exciting time, with the company currently managing 631 MW of projects under construction in the Eastern and Northern Cape provinces, in addition to its 1.1 GW of operational plants, Nordex announced.

The South African market faces notable challenges, including limited resources to support the growing pipeline of wind energy projects, including shortages of police escorts, crane and transport equipment and a small pool of experienced installation contractors.

However, Timmers sees these complexities as opportunities for strategic optimisation. Innovations, such as site-specific tower designs and concrete hybrid technologies, can reduce travel distances and enhance project economics, while advancements such as self-hoisting crane technology address crane shortages.

Nordex’s robust local training initiatives are key to developing and strengthening South Africa’s talent pool, thereby ensuring a sustainable future for the wind energy industry, Timmers highlighted.

“I am excited to contribute to the country’s growing economy as it transitions to a clean energy future. South Africa is at a pivotal moment in its renewable-energy journey, and I look forward to leveraging Nordex's global expertise to unlock new opportunities for sustainable energy growth,” he said.

“With wind projects globally increasing in size and complexity, I see an opportunity to leverage the experience gained in our Australian projects, where project-specific optimisations dramatically increased value for customers.

“Our expertise in supporting balance of plant optimisation, site-specific tower designs, and collaborative electrical and layout optimisations will stand us in good stead for tackling the new wave of larger, more complex projects in South Africa,” he added.

Timmers had an eight-year tenure in Australia. Under his guidance, Nordex's Australian operations delivered strategic innovations and optimisations, thereby positioning the company as a key player in one of the world's most dynamic renewable-energy markets, the company said.

“As South Africa accelerates its clean energy ambitions, Robert’s leadership will further solidify NESA’s role as a trusted renewable-energy partner, delivering value-driven solutions and driving innovation to meet the country’s growing energy demands,” said Nordex Spain, Asia Pacific and Africa VP Javier Ojanguren.

Meanwhile, Timmers has previously contributed to the successful construction of one of South Africa's largest wind farms in Gouda, in the Western Cape.

He brings extensive expertise in financial management, operations and strategic planning.

He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting and Bachelor of Business Science in Accounting and Finance from the University of Cape Town.

“His proven leadership positions him to drive NESA’s growth in a rapidly evolving energy market while fostering innovation and developing local talent,” the company said.