Wind turbine manufacturer Nordex South Africa has joined the country’s wind industry members in calling for the swift approval of a curtailment framework.

In an October 8 media release, Nordex says the framework, currently under review, is seen as an important step to unlocking greater grid access in the short term, while longer-term solutions are implemented to expand South Africa’s national grid.

The company says that, as the wind energy sector faces significant grid capacity constraints and regulatory challenges that are slowing the deployment of renewable-energy projects, it is vital to collectively advocate for practical solutions.

It adds that these solutions will enable the sector to continue supporting the country’s energy transition.

“The approval of the curtailment framework is crucial in the short term to enable more projects to connect to the grid, easing some of the immediate pressure on capacity constraints.

“We are committed to supporting initiatives that help overcome grid challenges and accelerate the deployment of wind energy in South Africa,” says Nordex head of sales Africa David Moncasi.

He further emphasises the importance of the framework as a temporary measure, while the country continues to address its long-term grid expansion needs.

“We believe this curtailment plan will benefit both public-driven auctions under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, as well as the private commercial and industrial offtake market,” he adds.

In the medium term, Nordex says, grid constraints could be alleviated through the National Transmission Company of South Africa’s (NTCSA’s) plan to use turnkey contracting for new grid capacity.

However, the long-term solution will likely depend on the government’s development of a model for Independent Power Transmission projects.

At the formal launch of the NTCSA on October 7, interim CEO Segomoco Scheppers revealed that the company’s board had approved R112-billion in capital expenditure for the coming five years to begin delivering on the Transmission Development Plan’s (TDP’s) goal of energising 14 000 km of new powerlines and adding 122 000 MVA of new transformer capacity by 2032.

Engineering News reported that, according to Scheppers, 1 250 km of powerlines were scheduled for delivery by 2027.

Eskom has previously been criticised for the slow rollout of additional powerlines in the early years of the TDP from 2023 to 2032.

Nordex says that, as a result, interim solutions such as the curtailment framework have become essential.

“These measures are crucial to advancing the country's renewable-energy transition and addressing ongoing energy shortages,” the company says.

A new ten-year TDP is expected to be released soon.