## 1 Introduction
### An Overview of Wind Energy Utilization in South Africa  
Wind energy, one of the oldest energy sources, dates back to ancient times when it was primarily used for grinding grain, pumping water for drinking, and irrigation [1]. In the 1990s, around 30,000 windmills were installed in South Africa to provide drinking water and support agricultural activities [11; 12]. Despite having significant wind energy potential, particularly in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa has historically prioritized cheaper coal over wind energy for electricity generation [12; 13]. Out of 410,000 km\({}^{2}\) of land exposed to wind speeds over 6.5 m/s, only 1174 km\({}^{2}\) is designated for wind farms [13]. Coastal regions have an annual mean wind speed of 6 m/s at a height of 10 m above ground level, with an estimated high wind potential of 60 TWh annually [14]. However, wind potential varies with time and location, necessitating site-specific wind resource assessments to reduce investment risks by selecting suitable wind turbines [1; 15]. Statistical analysis of wind characteristics is also crucial for optimizing wind energy utilization ([PERSON] et al., 2021). As a leading country in wind energy technology in Africa, South Africa attracted ZAR 209.7 billion in investments for wind energy projects in 2020. The wind energy sector has created 2723 jobs, commercialized 22 independent power producers, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 6.4 million tonnes [16]. Since the first large-scale wind farm was installed in 2014, South Africa now has 33 wind farms, with 22 fully operational and the rest under construction [17]. Figure 1 depicts some of the wind farms and their capacity in South Africa.  
As depicted in Figure 1, Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape Province is one of South Africa's largest wind farms, covering 3700 hectares. However, Amakhala Emoyeni and Cookhouse, also in the Eastern Cape, have higher capacities at 139 MW and 138.6 MW, respectively. Jeffreys Bay's proximity to the national grid, flat topography, and minimal environmental impacts make it an ideal wind resource location. In the Northern Cape, the Knobab, De Aar 2 North, and Loeriesfontein 2 wind farms have capacities of 140 MW,  
Figure 1: Wind farms in South Africa and their capacity (MW) [11].  
139 MW, and 138 MW, respectively. The Noupoort wind farm, covering 7500 hectares with an 80 MW capacity, benefits from excellent wind conditions and proximity to the national grid and roads, facilitating easy transport and construction of wind turbines [16]. The Northern Cape leads in wind farm investment costs, with De Aar 2 North costing ZAR 5 billion and both Loeriesfontein 2 and Khobab wind farms costing ZAR 3.5 billion each. In the Eastern Cape, Amakhala Emoyeni's investment cost is ZAR 3.94 billion, while Jeffreys Bay and Cookhouse are valued at ZAR 2.9 billion and ZAR 2.4 billion, respectively. In the Western Cape, the Gouda wind farm's investment cost is ZAR 2.7 billion. These investments highlight South Africa's commitment to integrating wind energy into its energy mix, demonstrating its leadership in wind energy technology in Africa. Between 2011 and 2015, wind energy prices decreased by 20% to ZAR 0.62 per kWh, making them ZAR 0.41 cheaper than coal prices [13; 17]. By 2030, it is anticipated that 11,800 MW to 12,500 MW of South Africa's power will come from wind energy [18].