Jeffrey's Bay Wind Farm — South Africa

Jeffrey's Bay Wind Farm is a 138 MW wind power station in Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is operated by Globeleq. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 117k homes (estimated). It ranks #67 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2014, it is around 12 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, wind supplies about 4.7% of South Africa's electricity; the national grid averages 699 gCO₂/kWh (17.8% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1061296.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000900031; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 138 MW, Jeffrey's Bay Wind Farm is well above the median wind plant in South Africa (94 MW). Technically it is described as Onshore. Wind turbines convert moving air into electricity; output is variable and site-dependent, and modern turbines deliver some of the lowest-cost new generation on many grids.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of South Africa wind capacity

6.8% of 2,029 MW across 24 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

2 of 24 dated wind plants in South Africa are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest wind plants in South Africa

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Globeleq.

Local climate & thermal context

This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 34.0°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 81% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 20/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #6 largest wind power plant of 24 in South Africa by capacity.

South Africa has 24 wind power plants in this dataset, together about 2,029 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Red Cap · Wind · 80 MW · Eastern Cape
• Tsitsikamma Community Wind Farm · Wind · 95 MW · Eastern Cape
• Van Stadens · Wind · 27 MW · Eastern Cape
• Grassridge Wind Farm · Wind · 61.5 MW · Eastern Cape
• Coega IDZ Windfarm · Wind · 73.8 MW · Eastern Cape
• Karpowership Coega power station · Gas · 450 MW · Eastern Cape

Location

Coordinates -33.9962, 24.8435 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions