Castle Wind Farm, South Africa – update

4th April 2025 By: Sheila Barradas - Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

Castle Wind Farm, South Africa – update

Name of the Project
Castle Wind Farm.

Location
De Aar, in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
The Castle Wind Farm was led and co-sponsored by African Clean Energy Developments (ACED), with African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) IDEAS Fund and Reatile Renewables as shareholders. AIIM is a division of Old Mutual Alternative Investments, and its IDEAS Fund is one of South Africa’s largest domestic infrastructure equity funds. 

ACED and AIIM affiliate, Energy Infrastructure Management Services, will now manage the wind farm. Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank, is the sole mandated lead arranger for the project.

Project Description
The 89 MW Castle Wind Farm will supply renewable energy to Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African mining operations through an Eskom wheeling agreement.

Expected renewable-energy supply is estimated at 309 GWh/y – 5.5% of Sibanye-Stillwater’s energy demand in South Africa.

The wind farm will reduce the company emissions by 321 000 t of CO2-equivalent a year – 5% of group scope 1 and 2 emissions – and mitigate future, indirect carbon tax liabilities.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Third-party funding for the project was secured through a 15-year build, own, operate, and transfer power purchase agreement.

Planned Start/End Date
The wind farm achieved commercial operation at the end of March 2025.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
AIIM, tel +27 21 670 1234 or email info@aiimafrica.com.