Longyuan South Africa Renewables highlights progress in green power and community support

Longyuan South Africa Renewables unveiled their Social Responsibility and Think Tank Report, highlighting their continued progress in green power generation, environmental protection, employee development, and community support.

The report sought to spotlight the commendable initiatives undertaken in the realm of new, clean energy.

China Longyuan is the world’s largest wind power investor and operator, with more than 22,000 megawatts of installed wind capacity.

Longyuan SA, its subsidiary, invests and operates one of the largest wind power plants in South Africa.

Longyuan South Africa Renewables CEO Wang Tianbao said that for many years, they have primarily worked on the Northern Cape highlands and have built two wind power projects.

“We have always followed the concept of openness, shared growth, and green development locally, and we keep improving our clean energy supply. Over the past year, we have continued making progress in green power generation, environmental protection, employee development, and community support.

“The report we are releasing today is not only a summary of our work but also a promise for the future. We will continue to raise our standards and take stronger actions for sustainable development. We hope green energy can reach more families and help deepen the cooperation and friendship between China and South Africa.”

Business Development Coordinator, Qing Guan, said: “Green energy is not only about generating electricity; it is also an enabler of low-carbon transformation. By the end of 2024, we had secured more than 4.5 million tonnes of carbon reduction credits, providing strong support for South Africa’s energy transition.”

He added: “Beyond clean energy, we are dedicated to empowering local communities. Through long-term support in education, employment, and youth development, we have supported more than 500 young people to complete university or vocational training, with an average yearly investment of around R5 million.

“This report records our efforts and carries our expectations for the future. And the future of China-South Africa cooperation will continue to go beyond the energy sector to include culture, youth empowerment, and innovation.”

Director of Planning and Development at Longyuan South Africa, Dai Xiaoming, said the report reflects not just another year of operations, but a year of building cleaner energy systems, building stronger communities, and building trust.

“At Longyuan South Africa, sustainability isn’t a standalone programme — it is woven into how we plan, how we operate, and how we engage with our partners and the communities we serve.

“Over the past year, South Africa has made important steps toward energy stability. Nearly 300 days without load shedding in 2024 — the longest stretch in five years — are a remarkable achievement.

“While this reflects the collective efforts of the entire sector, we are proud that Longyuan South Africa continues to play its part through stable, clean power generation, high plant availability, and strong environmental compliance,” Xiaoming said.

Xiaoming highlighted that the De Aar Wind Power Project contributed over 783 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity to the national grid this year.

“That’s enough to power approximately 300,000 households, while reducing carbon emissions by over 615,000 tons. These are not just technical figures, but have a tangible impact on South Africa’s transition toward net zero.

“Both our projects maintained compliance with all environmental requirements, and we continued our focus on ecological protection, including vegetation restoration, avian monitoring, and site biodiversity integration. One of our core operating principles is simple: we must develop energy in harmony with nature.

“But sustainable development goes far beyond megawatts and emissions. We understand that energy transition must also be a just transition. And that means creating opportunities where our projects are based,” Xiaoming said.

Xiaoming said that in 2024, they strengthened their “Learn – Train – Employ” approach and that through these partnerships with the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre, seven youth from De Aar and neighbouring towns completed their training as wind technicians.

“For the first time, we also launched a solar operation and maintenance training programme, which reached 100 unemployed youth. After completing three months of intensive training, 10 participants have already secured full-time employment with local companies, showing a promising signal of the skills pipeline we are helping to grow.

“So far, we’ve trained over 115 local youth in renewable energy fields — not only for our own project needs, but for the broader green economy. Our focus on social upliftment doesn’t end there. In the area of public health, our mobile clinic continues to deliver essential healthcare services across De Aar,” Xiaoming said.

“In 2024 alone, it served nearly 9,000 residents, bringing our cumulative total to over 50,000 visits since the programme began. These are people who might otherwise not have had access to basic consultations, screenings, or chronic care — and we are proud to be part of the solution.

“Our goal of 1GW installed capacity in Africa by 2030 is ambitious but achievable — and we’re exploring expansion not only within South Africa but also in neighbouring markets. We will continue investing in local talent, enterprise development, and innovative green energy models,” Xiaoming said.

Xiaoming expressed gratitude to the assembled friends and colleagues, acknowledging that their support, collaboration, and feedback are vital to strengthening Longyuan South Africa's work and impact.

He emphasised the company's belief that the energy transition should be a catalyst for collective success, providing clean energy that illuminates both homes and future opportunities.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za