World Power PlantsWorld Power Plants

Golden Valley Wind Energy Facility117.72 MW Wind

WindRenewable

Golden Valley Wind Energy Facility is a 117.72 MW wind power plant located in South Africa. The facility harnesses wind energy to generate electricity and contributes to the country's renewable energy capacity. It ranks as the 18th largest wind plant in South Africa. With 117.72 MW, it represents 2.94% of the country's total wind capacity of 4,002 MW. South Africa has 50 wind plants with a combined capacity of 4,002 MW. Compared to the largest wind plant, Longyuan Mulilo Green Energy De Aar 2 North Wind Energy Facility at 144 MW, Golden Valley is approximately 82% the size. Wind energy plays an increasingly important role in South Africa's energy mix, contributing to about 5% of the total electricity generation. The country's geographic diversity, with coastal and inland areas, supports wind farm development. Golden Valley is located approximately 300 km northeast of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province.

Capacity
117.72 MW
Commissioning Year
2015

11 years old

Owner
Mainstream Renewable Power
Location
-32.8874°, 25.9419°

South Africa, Africa

Location

Coordinates:: -32.887410, 25.941866
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Carbon Footprint

Zero Direct Emissions

Golden Valley Wind Energy Facility is a wind power plant producing approximately 309 GWh of clean electricity per year with zero direct CO₂ emissions during operation.

Lifecycle emissions: ~11 g CO₂/kWh (manufacturing, transport, decommissioning)

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Wind
Energy Source
Renewable
Country
South Africa
Continent
Africa
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database

South AfricaEnergy Profile

232
Total Plants
71.9 GW
Total Capacity
CoalHydroSolarGas
Top Fuels

Understanding Wind Power Generation: A Comprehensive Overview

Wind power generation harnesses the kinetic energy of wind to produce electricity, making it one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources globally. This process begins with wind turbines, which consist of large blades mounted on a tower. As the wind blows, it causes the blades to rotate, transforming the wind's kinetic energy into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then converted into electrical energy through a generator connected to the turbine. The efficiency of wind turbines has significantly improved over the past decades, with modern designs capable of generating power even at low wind speeds.

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