About us
Pioneering the development and construction of sustainable wind projects in South Africa since 2009.
Starts developments: Karoo Renewable, Spitskop East, Spitskop West, Oyster Bay
Founded in 2008, SARGE is a privately owned South African renewable green energy company, based in Cape Town, that develops, constructs and operates wind and solar (PV) projects.
SARGE is a 100% South African entity. The company is one of the pioneers in the development of wind and PV energy in South Africa. It’s founder, Francois Roux, led the way in that he successfully helped to shape policy, being an important player in the establishment of the REIPPP programme together with South Africa’s major banks, legal firms, ESKOM, NERSA and the IPP office. He was a successful recipient in the first round of renewable energy bids in South Africa.
SARGE has gone on to partner with international players to design, plan, and manage green energy projects from blueprint to completion in the South African market. The company is actively involved in all phases of wind project development in South Africa, which include feasibility, design, financial, PPA signing, construction, and operational phases.
SARGE began activity in 2009 with the development of the Karoo Renewable Energy Project, followed by their Spitskop East, Spitskop West, and Oyster Bay projects. The company has subsequently developed more than 500 MW in wind and solar projects and has sold 500 MW in wind developments to global renewable energy companies, RES (Renewable Energy Systems) and Enel Green Power.
SARGE has a proven track record in the prospecting of wind projects in Europe (Scotland, Belgium, and Ireland), including conducting due diligences and financial feasibilities of existing projects.
In 2013 SARGE signed a joint venture with multinational company, Gestamp Wind, now Elawan Energy, to develop a portfolio of wind projects with a commitment to give a majority share to Gestamp once the projects reached the final stage. Together, SARGE and Gestamp Wind have not only developed a wind portfolio of more than 500 MW in South Africa, but can guarantee participation in future bids, standing by with 242 MW ready for submission in the REIPPP programme.
In 2013, SARGE began construction of Noblesfontein Wind Farm in the Karoo. Noblesfontein is a South African bid round one independent power producer (IPP), producing 73.8 MW from 41 Vestas Turbines, which made SARGE the first South African entity to have a majority share in a wind project. It has successfully provided proof of the company’s renewable energy capabilities and expertise. With a minority stake in various subsequent projects, SARGE provides local support to ensure compliance with South African regulations, and assists in meeting the needs and requirements of South Africa’s renewable energy market.
SARGE is passionate about assisting local communities, ensuring that they benefit to the fullest extent from economic development and social economic development.
Important milestones
Meet our CEO
CEO, Emma-Jane Ritchie, is the owner of South African Renewable Green Energy (Pty) Ltd (SARGE). Emma-Jane also owns the Noblefontein Wind Energy Project, Nfontein Three, and NOA Construction. Emma-Jane is deeply committed, sharing her late husband, Pieter Francois Roux’s vision for the sustained development of green energy in South Africa.
Born in Scotland, Emma-Jane grew up in New Zealand. While working in Germany, she met her husband, Springbok athlete, Pieter Francois Roux, fifth generation owner of Noblesfontein Farm in the Karoo. The couple returned to Francois’ native country of South Africa in 1995, two years after the birth of their first daughter, Kwasi. Upon their return, the couple created the start-up company Karoo Mineral Water, which was bottled at the source, Noblesfontein in the Karoo. A few years later the couple moved to Cape Town and not long after, their second daughter, Rosemary, and son, Jack, were born.
Since November 2020, Emma-Jane has held the position of New Zealand Honorary Consul at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade in South Africa. She holds an LLB (Hons) degree in Law and is currently studying towards a Masters in Law at the University of Edinburgh.
Noblesfontein Wind Farm is the brainchild of fifth-generation farm owner, the late Pieter Francois Roux. Francois’s vision was to generate clean green energy from Noblesfontein – both to feed power into the national grid and to boost the economy of the surrounding communities. As Francois grew up on Noblesfontein, foremost in his mind was always the social and economic empowerment of the people with whom he grew up. Francois’ vision was realised when the wind farm went online in July 2014. Noblesfontein feeds the national grid and invests 2.5% of its turnover into the surrounding communities of Victoria West and Hutchinson via ongoing socio-economic development projects.
