The Carissa Wind Energy Facility project, located near Beaufort West in the Western Cape province, has obtained its Environmental Authorisation (EA), becoming the largest permitted wind installation in South Africa. With a projected capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW) and comprising 154 turbines, the facility will supply electricity to the Coega Green Ammonia industrial project in Nelson Mandela Bay.
A major milestone for energy infrastructure
The development of the Carissa Wind Energy Facility is led by Hive Hydrogen, acting as the main off-taker of the produced electricity. AMDA Developments is responsible for project execution, while the environmental assessment was conducted by Blue Crane Environmental. This partnership enabled the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) within a shortened timeframe, benefiting from the project’s Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP) status, which facilitated processing by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
According to the project stakeholders, this environmental approval represents the final regulatory step before the detailed engineering phase of Hive Hydrogen’s 3,300 MW renewable energy asset portfolio. The total estimated cost of the Coega Green Ammonia project stands at ZAR105bn ($5.43bn), with construction scheduled to begin in 2027 and commissioning targeted for December 2029.
A project backed by experience and coordination
Since 2010, AMDA Developments has expanded its footprint in the South African market, reaching a portfolio exceeding 5,000 MW in renewable energy projects. The company commended Blue Crane Environmental’s ability to meet deadlines while maintaining regulatory standards. The process included a public consultation phase and detailed technical reports aimed at limiting environmental impact.
Coordination between technical specialists and the project developers played a decisive role in securing this authorisation. Blue Crane’s leadership highlighted the importance of close and rigorous collaboration to meet targets set by authorities, in line with legal and industrial requirements.
A driver for green ammonia production
The energy generated by the Carissa Wind Energy Facility will directly supply Hive Hydrogen’s green ammonia plant located at the Port of Ngqura (Coega) in the Eastern Cape province. This strategic industrial site will enable South Africa to expand its production capacity of green hydrogen and related derivatives for export.
The Carissa project aligns with the country’s efforts to scale up local energy capacity and position itself as a potential supplier in global clean hydrogen markets. It also serves as a model for development governed by compliant regulatory processes and established technical partnerships.
