The International Panel on Climate Change has reported that wind energy offers significant potential for reducing carbon emissions - an important step to mitigate climate change impacts. Wind turbines harvest energy out of the wind that blows through each turbines blades and therefore does not require the burning of any fossil fuels to produce electricity.

During the project development phase an Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted to identify the environmental and social risks that the project could pose to the local area.

Public participation was conducted as part of the application process allowing the local voices to be heard. First environmental authorisation was given in August 2015.

A product of this process is the Environmental Management Programme which dictates how the construction and operations phase are to conduct themselves to reduce, mitigate and compensate for adverse environmental and social affects. Additionally, the projects international financiers require environmental and social plans to be developed and followed according to Equator Principles.

The Equator Principles is a risk management framework, adopted by financial institutions, for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risk in projects. The Equator Principles have greatly increased the attention and focus not only on the environment but also on social/community standards and responsibility. For this reason, the Copperton Wind Farm Project is strongly committed to protecting the environment, to safety and to communities living in the Siyathemba Local Municipality.