South Africa’s wind farm market is poised for significant expansion, fuelled by increased investment, abundant wind resources and a determined effort to reduce carbon emissions while securing the nation’s energy future.

BIL’s Capital Projects division is making a vital contribution by managing the forwarding and clearing of critical wind turbine components on behalf of a client. Currently, the team is assisting with components for two windfarms that will collectively require 107 turbines.

At the heart of wind power lies a straightforward concept: harnessing the wind’s energy to produce electricity. However, the engineering behind it is anything but simple and the components are finely constructed to produce the ultimate results.

The housing on top of the tower is called a nacelle and weighs 68 tons, into which goes a drive train, which is the gearbox unit weighing 78 tons. Then there is a hub, which weighs 60 tons, into which three blades are mounted, each weighing 30 tons. All of this, with a collective weight of just under 300 tons, is perched on a 120-meter-high tower.

The precise construction of these components ensures optimal performance and their transportation and assembly demand careful planning and expertise. Stephan Van Emmenes, Head Capital Projects, and his team at BIL exemplify this expertise. By securing green flag status from SARS, they ensure all components are cleared upon arrival, preventing costly delays.

“A single wind farm project can reach a cost of R5 billion, with components sourced from multiple countries,” Stephan explains. “We maintain constant communication with our client’s overseas partners to navigate this intricate supply chain seamlessly.”