The Carissa wind facility, promoted by Hive Hydrogen and located near Beaufort West in the Western Cape, has been officially environmentally cleared, making it the largest permitted wind farm in South Africa, with a planned capacity of up to 1000 MW.
Key to green hydrogen economy
Carissa Park will play a critical role in the energy chain that will power Hive Hydrogen’s green ammonia plant at Ngqura Port in Nelson Mandela Bay. This project, called Coega Green Ammoniaaims to make South Africa a major player in the global production of green hydrogen.
The environmental clearance was made possible through a collaboration between Hive Hydrogen, AMDA Developments and Blue Crane Environmental. The latter led the environmental impact assessment (EIA), implementing a rigorous strategy of public consultation and mitigation of environmental impacts. Approval was granted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) under the Strategic Infrastructure Project category.
Impact and scalability of the Carissa wind power plant
With 154 wind turbines planned, Carissa will be a benchmark for future renewable energy developments in the region. Its scale and efficiency position it as a key part of the 3,300 MW portfolio that Hive Hydrogen envisions to power green ammonia production. green ammonia production.
The Coega Green Ammonia project, backed by Hive Energy and Built Africa, is moving towards its initial engineering design phase scheduled for November 2025. With an estimated budget of R105 billion, construction is expected to commence in 2027 and be operational by the end of 2029.
Carissa’s authorization represents more than a formality, it is the result of a transparent technical strategy and rigorous environmental management. The collaborative approach among project stakeholders has been key to meeting environmental standards without compromising the development schedule.
Source and photo: Hive Energy
