Karoo Renewable Energy Facility (Nobelsfontein Wind) — South Africa

Karoo Renewable Energy Facility (Nobelsfontein Wind) is a 73.8 MW wind power plant in Northern Cape, South Africa. It is operated by South African Renewable Green Energy. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 63k homes (estimated). It ranks #100 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 WRI1026019.

Data provenance

Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.

capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 73.8 MW, Karoo Renewable Energy Facility (Nobelsfontein Wind) is below the median wind plant in South Africa (94 MW). 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

3.6% 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 South African Renewable Green Energy.

Local climate & thermal context

This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 27.6°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 70% 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: 24/100 — 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 a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #16 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

• Kathu Solar Park · Solar · 100 MW · Northern Cape
• Sishen Solar Power Plant · Solar · 94.3 MW · Northern Cape
• Kathu CSP · Solar · 100 MW · Northern Cape
• Adams Solar PV Project · Solar · 82.5 MW · Northern Cape
• Lesedi Solar Power Plant · Solar · 75 MW · Northern Cape
• Jasper Solar Power Plant · Solar · 96 MW · Northern Cape

Location

Coordinates -27.602, 22.9201 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions