Wind energy 1.Overview Wind energy use wind turbine to generate electricity which work on simple principle, turbines use wind to make electricity. Wind turns the propeller-like blades of a turbine around a rotor, which spins a generator, which create electricity and according to how their axis of rotation is assimilated, the various types of wind turbines can be divided into two groups: horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT's) and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT's) . In contrast to the lesser-known technologies developed on the VAWT, the expected mass typically relies primarily on HAWTs. This classification is based on the structure and the orientation of the rotor shaft . The top of the tower is where the HAWT's primary rotor shaft, gearbox, and generator are located, with the primary rotor shaft pointing in the direction of the wind. While the gearbox and generator are situated close to the turbine's foundation in VAWT, the prime rotor shaft is parallel to the wind direction and is located on the turbine[1]. 2.Global and local presence Recent energy issues in South Africa include unplanned outages, a lack of electricity generation, blackouts, and electrical energy poverty, particularly in rural areas. This prompted the South African government to launch a number of energy and energy efficiency intervention programs, with a particular emphasis on off-grid renewable energy options. Wind energy is one of the renewable energy sources that South Africa is interested in . In South Africa's coastal region, the majority of the best wind resources can be found. South Africa had less than 10 MW of installed wind capacity as of 2010. However, the country had 2 GW of installed wind power capacity by the end of 2018, making South Africa one of the regional leaders in wind power installation and deployment in Africa thanks to the various intervention programs aimed at increasing the recoverable energy from wind resource[2]. One of the top producers of wind energy on the African continent, South Africa had over 2,500 MW of installed wind capacity as of 2021.The 140 MW Roggeveld Wind Farm, the 138 MW Kangnas Wind Farm, and the 140 MW Nxuba Wind Farm are the biggest wind farms in the nation. There are numerous smaller, community-based wind projects that provide electricity to rural areas in addition to these large-scale ones. 3 Impact and outcomes The development of wind energy projects has the potential to boost South Africa's economy and generate jobs. For their construction and operation, wind farms need skilled laborers, and local suppliers can profit from the demand for goods and services. Additionally, by supplying social and economic infrastructure, wind energy projects can aid in the growth of nearby communities. The use of wind energy can also help South Africa diversify its energy mix and lessen its reliance on fossil fuels. South Africa can increase its use of renewable energy and lessen its sensitivity to changes in the price of fuel globally by increasing the proportion of renewable energy in its electricity supply. References 1. Roga, S., Bardhan, S., Kumar, Y. and Dubey, S.K. (2022). Recent technology and challenges of wind energy generation: A review. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 52, p.102239. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2022.102239. 2. Potential and economic viability of green hydrogen production by water electrolysis using wind energy resources in South Africa. (2019). International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, [online] 44(33), pp.17669–17687. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.05.077.
