Sere — South Africa

Sere is a 100 MW wind power station in Western Cape, South Africa. It is operated by Eskom. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 85k homes (estimated). It ranks #77 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2015, it is around 11 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 WRI1000134.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000900027; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 100 MW, Sere is around 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

4.9% of 2,029 MW across 24 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

10 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 Eskom. All plants by this company →

Local climate & thermal context

This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 31.5°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 a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), 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 #10 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

• Vredendal Solar Power Plant · Solar · 8.8 MW · Western Cape
• Klawer Wind Farm · Wind · 30 MW · Western Cape
• Paleisheuwel Solar Power Plant · Solar · 82.5 MW · Western Cape
• Aurora Solar Power Plant · Solar · 10.3 MW · Western Cape
• West Coast 1 · Wind · 94 MW · Western Cape
• Karpowership Saldanha power station · Gas · 320 MW · Western Cape

Location

Coordinates -31.5296, 18.0943 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions