Waainek Wind Farm — South Africa

Waainek Wind Farm is a 23 MW wind power plant in Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is operated by InnoWind (Pty) Ltd Subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) Group. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 20k homes (estimated). It ranks #120 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2016, it is around 10 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 WRI1061297.

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 23 MW, Waainek Wind Farm is below 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

1.1% of 2,029 MW across 24 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

16 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 InnoWind (Pty) Ltd Subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) Group.

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 33.3°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 83% 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: 19/100 — 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 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 #22 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

• Grahamstown · Biomass · 3.5 MW · Eastern Cape
• Amakhala Emoyeni Wind Farm · Wind · 131.05 MW · Eastern Cape
• Cookhouse · Wind · 139 MW · Eastern Cape
• Coega power station · Gas · 3,000 MW · Eastern Cape
• Dedisa power station · Oil · 335 MW · Eastern Cape
• Coega IDZ Windfarm · Wind · 73.8 MW · Eastern Cape

Location

Coordinates -33.3238, 26.4642 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions