Working Groups

Working Group

Chair

Description

Assets

Lukhanyo Kenneth Ndube
Assets@sawea.org.za

Previous Chair:
Mark Pickering

WG Report

Membership of the Asset Working Group is restricted to those members of SAWEA who are involved in the ownership and/or operation of wind farms that have achieved at least preferred bidder status. The working group strives to represent the majority of assets in order to speak convincingly on behalf of the industry. The Working Group was establishment in early 2015 and is in the process of expanding membership. Qualifying members of SAWEA are encouraged to join the Working Group. The goals of the Asset Working Group are: To promote best operating practice amongst members through shared learning, particularly in the areas of health, safety and environment; To identify issues of common interest to members and to develop an industry perspective where necessary; To represent the interests of members in fora and processes of relevance to the financing, construction and operation of wind farms in South Africa; and To facilitate the development of the professional skills required for a successful and sustainable wind industry.

Environmental (Birds & Bats & Strategic environ)

Ben Brimble
Environmental@sawea.org.za

Previous Chair:
Jadon Schmidt

WG Report

The goal of the Environmental Working Group is to:-

• pro-actively engage with national/provincial authorities and stakeholders on environmental aspects of wind energy development and generation that require collaborative attention.
• coordinate response and pro-active lobbying activity on environmental regulatory issues through collaboration with SAWEA’s Regulatory Working Group.
• engage with respective authorities and stakeholders to promote sustainable and responsible wind energy development.

Tom Thorogood hse@sawea.org.za

Land use

Mantwa Mathebula
LandUse@sawea.org.za

Previous Chair:
Enelge Gildenhuys

WG Report

The SAWEA Land Use Planning Working Group focuses on engaging authorities on issues of land-use and spatial planning for wind energy, and to interface between national/provincial planning authorities and SAWEA, to collate/submit members’ comments on draft planning guidelines, acts and regulations. The WG aims to play a significant role in cooperating with planning authorities and other industry bodies with intent to facilitate and advance renewable energy development, particularly wind energy.

Manufacturers & Local Content (O&M)

Tbc
manufacturers@sawea.org.za

Define standards from Manufacturers view point for the Wind Energy Industry in SA/ Local Content

Policy & Markets

Policy@sawea.org.za

Previous Chair:
Brian Cunningham

WG Report

The Policy and Markets Working Group exists to support the development and sustainability of the wind energy industry in South Africa. Their objectives are a favourable legislative framework in which a wind energy industry is supported and promoted, and further the removal of barriers to entry confronted by all players within the wind energy industry. The Policy and Markets Working Group came about after a merge of the Policy and Legislation and the Markets and Procurement Working Groups, since the objectives of both groups were aligned. The wind energy market within South Africa is governed by the legislation put in place by the Department of Energy.

Skills development

Manfred Dutschke
Skills@sawea.org.za

Previous Chair:
Laura James

The Skills Development Working Group consists of representatives of learning institutions and IPPs.  It is seeking additional representation from OEMs.  The Skills Development Working Group’s purpose is to act as the nexus between skills demand and skills supply.

Technical

Duncan Ayling
Technical@sawea.org.za

Previous Chair:
Christopher Bellingham

WG Report

Since early 2010, the Technical Working Group has been working on several projects and been engaging in relationship building with key stakeholders, including: Strategic Grid Plan: Spatial Distribution of Wind Energy Resource in South Africa – the statistical compilation of views on where the wind development potential could be expected to be focussed. Provided as input to Eskom Planning’s SGP Grid Code: engagement on evolution of draft grid code for wind, setting up of Project Committee Framework for Transmission Hub Planning – an
initiative to bring together NERSA, DoE, Eskom Planning, Grid Access Unit and Transmission with key industry bodies to address challenges in the IPP Procurement Process and Eskom application and costing process to facilitate proactive and pragmatic planning of shared integration infrastructure. GCCA 2012 – engagement with Eskom on the GCCA 2012 and production of a discussion document addressing questions. Developing stakeholder relationships, including: DoE, NERSA, SAAF, CAA, DEA, Eskom Planning, Distribution, Transmission, System Operator, Grid Access Unit, SABS, SAWEP, DTU/Risoe, CSIR, DEADP, various universities.

Wind for Communities

Marion Green-Thompson
Communities4wind@sawea.org.za

Previous Chair:
Holle Wlokes

WG Report

Members of the wind industry have at different forums indicated a need for guidelines in developing SED plans and engaging communities, as per REIPPPP requirement. The ED commitments under REIPPPP, in particular SED and EnD have positioned community development, previously not considered the core business of wind farm project developers, as a key strategic imperative for the wind industry.

There is a clear commitment from industry to do it right. The objectives of this working group are to: Develop and disseminate advice on good practice for community development and engagement; Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst IPPs in maximising the social returns of the renewable energy program  at local and district level;  Facilitate improved communication between industry and government to improve quality and relevance of economic development reporting;  Support positive relationship building with beneficiary communities; Communicates the developmental impact of the SED and EnD programmes implemented by the wind industry.