SAPPI NGODWANA — South Africa
Biomass power plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Approximate location -25.5773, 30.6564.
BiomassMpumalangaSouth Africa
SAPPI NGODWANA is a 117 MW biomass power station in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 161k homes (estimated). It ranks #71 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. In context, biomass supplies about 0.2% 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 CT-6244.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: Climate TRACE; fuel: Climate TRACE
In context: how this plant compares
At 117 MW, SAPPI NGODWANA is well above the median biomass plant in South Africa (19 MW). Biomass plants burn organic material such as wood, residues or waste-derived fuel to raise steam; they are dispatchable and counted as low-carbon where the feedstock is sustainably sourced.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of South Africa biomass capacity
- 33.4% of 350 MW across 14 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest biomass plants in South Africa
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Local climate & thermal context
This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. It sits in a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 25.6°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 77% 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: 21/100 — 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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with humidity / wetness 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 #1 largest biomass power plant of 14 in South Africa by capacity.
South Africa has 14 biomass power plants in this dataset, together about 350 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Lomati · Biomass · 10.1 MW · Mpumalanga
- Maguga Dam · Hydro · 15 MW · Hhohho
- Khanyazwe Flexpower power station · Gas · 1,000 MW · Mpumalanga
- Malelane power station · Biomass · 34.4 MW · Mpumalanga
- KEPCO Eswatini power station · Coal · 200 MW · Eswatini
- Maswati power station · Coal · 1,000 MW · Eswatini
Location
Coordinates -25.5773, 30.6564 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is SAPPI NGODWANA?
SAPPI NGODWANA is a 117 MW biomass power plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa.