The wind turbine towers are being produced at GRI – Renewable Industries’ production plant in Atlantis.
With a capacity to produce 150 turbine towers annually, the production plant currently employs 240 people, with plans to increase the number of employees to 270 in 2016.
The first 35 towers for the 80MW Noupoort wind farm located in Umsobomvu local municipality are being delivered.
The remainder towers will be delivered to the Khobab wind farm and the Loeriesfontein 2 wind farm, both located in the Namakwa District Municipality with a installed capacity of 140MW each.
Mainstream Renewable Power Noupoort wind farm project manager Martina Flanagan said: "We are delighted to be receiving the first of these locally manufactured wind turbine towers at Noupoort Wind Farm.
"Local content has a vital role to play in the long-term growth and sustainability of South Africa’s hugely successful renewable energy programme."
The three wind farms are owned by a consortium comprising Lekela Power, Renewable Energy Trust, Thebe Investment Corporation,The IDEAS Managed Fund and Genesis Eco-Energy in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital.
Earlier this month, Mainstream received environmental consent from the Chilean Environmental Evaluation Service for the construction of 182MW Aurora wind farm in Chile.
Upon becoming operational, the wind farm will generate clean energy that will be enough to power around 280,000 households.
