Nairobi/Beijing, February 28 (Xinhua) — China Africa wind power cooperation promotes Africa’s green transformation
Recently, the Addis Ababa wind power project, constructed by a Chinese company, held a commissioning ceremony in the eastern Somali region of the country. Unlike other projects, the leaders of Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia jointly attended the commissioning ceremony of this project, which attracted attention from the outside world.
The Ayissa wind power project started construction in 2017, with a designed total installed capacity of 120 megawatts and the installation of 48 wind turbines with a single capacity of 2.5 megawatts. At present, the first phase of 32 units have achieved grid connected power generation and have been included in the regional energy layout. After being put into operation, the project will continue to supply power to the Somali region of Ethiopia, the Dredawa Industrial Park, and the Addis Ababa Djibouti Railway, providing reliable energy support for the Addis Ababa Djibouti Railway Economic Corridor while stabilizing the operation of the eastern power grid in Ethiopia.
At the commissioning ceremony, the leaders of the three countries highly praised the cooperation achievements of China Africa and China Ethiopia in the fields of clean energy and green development. Many industry experts have also pointed out that the project has increased the proportion of renewable energy, enhanced the stability of the power grid, and improved the management capabilities of new energy projects.
The achievement of the results is due to the joint efforts of the builders in China and Africa, as well as the success of a systematic cooperation model. From early planning and engineering design, to equipment manufacturing and construction, to grid connected operation and subsequent maintenance, Chinese enterprises provide a complete, mature, and sustainable solution. Industry insiders believe that this “full chain” solution will help improve the management and technological application level of local new energy organizations, and accumulate experience for subsequent projects.
During the construction and commissioning process of the Ayisa wind power project, local technicians gradually mastered the skills of wind turbine installation and system operation by participating in construction and operation training. Wind farms not only provide energy increment, but also present a complete chain from engineering construction to industrial operation. This is precisely the practical path of promoting energy through systems and promoting development through capabilities.
In the cooperation of wind power and green transformation between China and Africa, “human transformation” is crucial.
The DeA wind power project in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa is the first wind power project in Africa that integrates investment, construction, and operation by a Chinese power company. Tao Te, who is 31 years old, is a technician in the project. Through the “learning practice employment” training mechanism, he eventually grew into a technical backbone in key positions.
The total installed capacity of the De A wind power project is 244.5 megawatts, making it the largest wind power project in South Africa that has been put into operation. It delivers approximately 770 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity to the grid annually, benefiting hundreds of thousands of households. The project has a local technical team with continuously improving self driving capabilities: the localization rate of employees exceeds 80%, and most positions are led by local technical personnel. The project has trained over a hundred local young technical talents, many of whom are capable of independently undertaking operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting tasks.
At the same time, the company also provides education and medical support to surrounding schools and residents through scholarship programs and community support projects, gradually making the wind farm a comprehensive platform to drive community development. Clean electricity can alleviate energy shortages, while the deployment of talent and skills has allowed green cooperation to take root locally.
Tao Te said, “Wind power has not only changed my job, but also my choices for the future. Being able to independently operate the unit and solve problems, I feel like I am growing like a project.” In him, we can see that green transformation is not just about adjusting the energy structure, but also reshaping the career path and social expectations. Technology remains, positions remain, and the sustainability of cooperation is formed accordingly.
For most African countries, affordable, scalable, and sustainable electricity supply capacity is particularly important.
For a long time, insufficient electricity has been an important bottleneck restricting the industrialization and urbanization process in Africa. China’s mature wind power manufacturing capabilities complement the growing energy demand in Africa structurally. For example, the Amenette wind power project in Egypt has been included in Egypt’s medium and long-term energy development plan, which is deeply compatible with the port economy and industrial layout. Similar projects release not only electrical energy, but also the fundamental conditions that support manufacturing, logistics systems, and urbanization processes.
From the high-altitude wind farms in East Africa, to long-term operations in South Africa, and to large-scale development along the North African coast, the cooperation between China and African countries in the field of wind power is forming a clear trajectory from point to surface, from projects to systems.
The wind power project not only brings about power improvement and technical cooperation, but also a comprehensive practice of capacity building and talent growth. The young technicians of Ayisa and De’a are the “vitality footnote” in this collaborative model. Against the backdrop of accelerating global energy transition, cooperation between China and Africa around clean energy such as wind power is driving deeper industrial restructuring and development model transformation.