Dinesen said Denmark’s strong presence at the conference - a total of 14 Danish companies are on exhibit at the Danish Pavilion– emphasised the country’s goal to foster strong partnerships with South African companies and to grow the wind energy industry in the coming years:

“The framework for the South African renewable energy sector is transparent and fair and through exhibitions such as WINDaba and the three-year partnership renewable energy agreement, signed earlier the year between the Denmark and South Africa, we are sending a clear signal that we are committed and believe it is a very promising marketplace.”

Denmark is also represented at WINDaba by the Danish Wind Industry Association, State of Green and the Danish Energy Agency. Commenting on the South African wind energy industry, Jan Serup Hylleberg, CEO of the Danish Wind Industry Association says Denmark’s differentiator is that it offers a competitive and globalised approached to the respective wind energy sectors it plays in and South Africa is no different:

“We are early movers and South Africa is an exciting market entering an exciting time.  By partnering with local companies we are bringing almost 30 years of expertise, technology and market experience to the local wind industry.”

Proactive transfer of skills and knowledge

Denmark’s knowledge transfer in the South Africa is well known; the country is actively involved initiatives such as the Wind Atlas for South Africa (WASA) which recently announced the country’s High Resolution Wind Map, part of the Verified Numerical Wind Atlas. 

“Through proactive skills transfer we are enabling South Africa to establish a bona fide wind industry and to, in turn, become a leader in Africa. The Danish wind industry also recently announced its intent to create 1000 sustainable jobs through local wind turbine component manufacturing. As a country we are aware and embrace the local content requirement and will continue to align our efforts with it,” says Dinesen.

“In a time where energy costs are high, establishing local partnerships to offer an alternative in the form of renewable energy is a main priority and provide fantastic opportunities for years to come,” he concludes.

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