wind power

India's Suzlon Energy, the third largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world in terms of market share, has announced that it is setting up an office in South Africa to explore local business opportunities.

The UN Environment Programme has partnered with South Africa's Standard Bank and Germany's International Climate Initiative to develop a new carbon project as part of the fight against climate change in Africa. The initiative has already awarded grants to three "green" projects around the continent.

The World Energy Council has commended South Africa for the effectiveness of its energy policies, particularly its national electrification programme and "exemplary" renewable energy plans.

An environmental impact study for South Africa's third wind farm is due to begin before the end of March. The planned St Helena Bay wind farm, situated on the country's west coast, will run between 18 and 20 wind turbines and produce 50 MW of power.

Red or white wine? At Backsberg Wine Cellars there’s another choice: green. The South African winery is one of only five wine producers in the world making carbon-neutral wines, offsetting its CO2 emissions by planting thousands of trees.

Alex Harris and Sibusiso Vilane made history on Thursday when they became the first South African team to walk unassisted to the South Pole. The duo set out on their 65-day journey on 10 November, dragging 130kg sleds almost 1 200 kilometres across some of the most hostile terrain on the planet.

The City of Cape Town has signed a 20-year agreement to buy "clean" electricity from Darling Wind Farm, paving the way for an innovative partnership between local and foreign investors, the government and the community of Darling to get SA's first commercial wind farm up and running.

South Africa has an abundance of wind resources, and - coupled with its vast tracts of open land and infrastructure - the potential to become a "wind powerhouse", according to pioneers in search of sustainable energy solutions for the country.