Latest news with #Sawea
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Meet the Wessa interns driving South Africa's green energy sector
Young people are leading the charge in the growing green energy sector in South Africa. Internship programmes – like the Wind Industry Internship Programme (WIIP), a flagship initiative run by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) and supported by the South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea) – are designed to build green career pathways by placing graduates in renewable energy and sustainability roles. Malixole Buthlezi. Image supplied. Sithabile Majavu. Image supplied. WIIP interns Malixole Buthelezi and Sithabile Majavu let us in on their uniqueness in the green energy space, challenges they've faced and how the green energy sector can alleviate SA's unemployment crisis. In your opinion, what do you do differently that helps you succeed in the green energy space? Malixole Buthelezi: As an environmental educator intern at Wessa, I bring a passion for community engagement and youth empowerment, which allows me to connect sustainability principles with real-life action in schools and communities. I also integrate creativity and storytelling into environmental awareness campaigns, making the message more relatable and inspiring to young audiences. Sithabile Majavu: A strength I'm proud of is my ability to adapt and lead in diverse environments. I've worked across NGOs, corporate spaces, and grassroots campaigns, which has taught me the value of listening, learning, and tailoring my approach to meet people where they are. My passion lies in environmental justice, making sure everyone, especially vulnerable communities, is part of the conversation and the solution. I believe real change happens when people feel seen, heard, and empowered. That's the difference I bring. I turn environmental awareness into environmental action, starting with the people around me. What sort of challenges, if any, are there for young people in the green energy sector? How have you overcome them? Buthelezi: One major challenge is the lack of access to practical training and mentorship opportunities for young people in this space. I've been fortunate to gain hands-on experience through Wessa's programmes, which have provided mentorship and exposure to real environmental projects, thus bridging the gap between theory and practice. Majavu: Gaining access, whether it's access to practical experience, mentorship, or entry-level opportunities, I've experienced to be a recurring challenge for graduates. My peers are passionate and educated, but the require hands-on exposure, because without it, it's difficult to break into the sector. My current internship with Wessa has helped bridge that gap by giving me the opportunity to work directly with schools, communities, and local environmental initiatives. Another challenge is being seen as capable and credible in professional spaces, especially when you're still early in your career. I've overcome this by remaining consistent, open to learning, and fully committed to every project I take on, from facilitating clean-ups to coordinating awareness workshops. Young people bring fresh ideas, tech-savviness, and a powerful sense of urgency when it comes to climate and sustainability. With the right support structures in place, we can play a powerful role in shaping a greener, more inclusive future. What kind of impact do you hope to leave for future generations in the industry? Buthelezi: I hope to leave a legacy of active environmental citizenship, where future generations are not only aware of sustainability issues but feel empowered and equipped to lead solutions in their own communities. Through education and grassroots initiatives, I aim to nurture a culture of responsibility and resilience. Majavu: I hope to leave a legacy of accessible, inclusive environmental education that empowers everyday people. I want youth and those living in underserved communities, to see themselves as part of the solution. I want future generations to inherit an industry that values grassroots involvement just as much as policy, and where young professionals are supported, mentored, and given real opportunities to lead. Through my work with Wessa and my studies in environmental sciences, I've seen how awareness can shift mindsets, and how small actions can ripple into long-term change. My goal is to continue building spaces where communities are not only educated about environmental issues but are also equipped and inspired to act on them. If I can help make sustainability feel local, personal, and possible for the next generation, then I'll know I've made a meaningful contribution to the green sector. How can the industry help to alleviate the growing unemployment rate? Buthelezi: The green sector can create new opportunities by investing in youth-led eco-enterprises, skills development in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. By linking environmental solutions to economic empowerment, the sector can become a catalyst for inclusive growth and job creation. Majavu: Green industries can help by expanding internships, learnerships, and skills development programmes that offer real experience and mentorship. We also need to focus on community-based projects that create local jobs while solving environmental problems. For example, clean-up campaigns, eco-tourism, composting, and food gardening are all initiatives I've been part of that not only benefit the environment but also build capacity and create income-generating opportunities. To make a significant impact, the sector must prioritise inclusivity and open doors for youth who are often overlooked. With the right support, the green economy can become a key driver of both environmental sustainability and social upliftment. Finally, what can the youth of 2025 learn from the youth of 1976? Buthelezi: The youth of 1976 taught us the power of collective action and standing firm for a just cause. In 2025, we can carry that spirit forward by standing up for climate justice, advocating for sustainable policies, and using our voices and innovation to shape a better future for all. Majavu: The 1976 generation showed us just how powerful young voices can be when they stand together for what's right. They proved that courage and unity can challenge even the toughest systems, and they remind us, the youth of today, that their voices and actions really do matter. I'm reminded of how their bravery inspires us today, to stand up to injustice in all its forms, and their sacrifices remind me that real change takes resilience and a willingness to put the greater good first.
News24
7 days ago
- Business
- News24
As SA's first wind farms pass the 10-year mark, will they keep spinning?
In Vredenburg, two hours outside Cape Town, 47 wind turbines dot the landscape at the Aurora Wind Farm, harvesting coastal winds and converting them into enough energy to power more than 180 000 households per year. The 94MW wind farm has been operating for 10 years, feeding power to South Africa's grid as part of Bid Window 2 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). This West Coast wind farm is one of eight wind projects that have passed the 10-year mark. All projects enter into 20-year contracts or power purchase agreements (PPA) with Eskom, to sell the energy to the power utility. Decommissioning or repowering? The question remains what will happen by the time they have to be decommissioned, given how quickly South Africa's energy market is changing. All REIPPPP projects are required to include decommissioning and rehabilitation considerations as part of their PPAs with Eskom and financial closure obligations, said Morongoa Ramaboa, chief communications officer at the South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea). 'While formal decommissioning activities are not yet under way, project developers are expected to set aside financial provisions for end-of-life activities from the outset. As projects mature, particularly those nearing the end of their 20-year PPA, developers will refine these plans to align with site-specific and regulatory requirements,' said Ramaboa. There is, however, a possibility of repowering or extending the life of these plants so they can sell to alternative (non-Eskom) buyers of the energy, such as private sector players. 'Under the current REIPPPP framework, PPAs are fixed at 20 years though there are provisions for extension since the plants do have the capability to have their operational life extended,' said Ramaboa. The plants would have to be refurbished with upgraded technology to improve their efficiency and extend their operational life. Storm Simpson 'Why scrap something that still has life?' said Alberto Gambacorta, executive vice president for the sub-Saharan Africa division of renewable energy developer Scatec. Scatec has had a presence in South Africa since 2010. Its Kalkbult solar PV plant in the Northern Cape was the first project of the REIPPP's Bid Window 1 that was commissioned in March 2014. Gambacorta said that closer to decommissioning, or as the 20-year PPA draws to a close, there will be considerations about what can be done about these plants. But they could go for another 10 years, with maintenance and refurbishment to improve its capacity. He expects that the electricity tariffs would also be cheaper, because at that point the plant's loans would be repaid and returns would have been made for the initial investors. 'There is something that can be done with these power plants in their afterlife, which doesn't necessarily need to be decommissioned,' he said. Gambacorta, however, emphasised that there are obligations to decommission and ensure the site is restored. But if the renewables are decommissioned, there should be alternative power to replace that which is removed from the energy system, he pointed out. 'You [are] decommissioning renewables, so where are you going make it up in terms of capacity… Those plants already have a footprint. You already have the infrastructure. You have the grid connection. You need to probably reinforce it, but it's there and it's available, and they're all located with the best resources,' said Gambacorta. He added that in other parts of the world, like Europe, renewable energy plants have not been decommissioned. 'They're still there. They're still running in the wholesale markets.' Secondary markets It is possible, then, that these first renewable energy plants in South Africa could be repurposed to meet the demands of the wholesale electricity market. Luyanda Jonas, CEO of Aurora Wind Power, said that there was a possibility that there may be a secondary market for the components of these plants. 'By the time we have to decommission, there might have been a secondary market already that is developed in South Africa, like other countries that have had wind farms operating for much longer. 'So there might be a secondary market for the different parts,' she said. Storm Simpson/News24 The decommissioning will ensure that each wind tower be taken down, along with blades and other operating mechanism and then have the land returned to its original state. 'In South Africa we are among the first few wind farms that reached commercial operations and that means we're also among the first that will have to decommission when the time comes,' she said, explaining that it was not yet clear whether there would be a secondary market for parts. READ | Climate Investment Funds approve R47bn coal-exit plan for SA Sawea's Ramaboa said that international best practice supported an approach where turbine components like the steel, copper and concrete could be recycled. 'Select parts may be refurbished and sold into secondary markets, including other developing countries. Turbine blades, made from composite materials, present a greater challenge, but there are emerging innovations in repurposing them for construction and infrastructure applications,' said Ramaboa. The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association's (Sapvia) junior technical specialist Sinethemba Mnguni noted that the IPP Office is conducting a study to assess international best practices for decommissioning, as well as recommend improvements to the legal framework for decommissioning, and quantify the benefits to consumers. The study will include stakeholder consultations. Mnguni added that the IPP Office has also commissioned a study on a recycling and repurposing framework for the REIPPP projects. 'While the outcomes of that study are still pending, it is likely that the majority of solar plant components will be recycled, with minimal material going to landfill,' Mnguni said.
