Advancing the just energy transition

Mainstream has been advancing a just energy transition in Africa since 2009, as a developer, constructor and operator of wind and solar assets.

Our collaborations with global and local partners have added more than 1.2 GW of clean, reliable generating capacity to the continent’s energy mix in Egypt, Senegal and South Africa.

Now our focus is our multi-gigawatt pipeline of wind and solar PV assets for public and private off-takers.

BY THE NUMBERS

75+

colleagues

12+GW

in development

610MW

O&M contracts with Lekela Power (South Africa)

About Lekela Power – one of Africa’s largest renewable energy generators

Lekela Power was founded in 2015 by Mainstream and Actis, a global responsible investment firm, to help deliver sustainable, reliable and competitively-priced electricity on the African continent.

It has achieved that goal by delivering over 1 GW and is reputedly one of Africa’s largest pure-play renewable Independent Power Producers’ (IPP).  In 2022, the sale of Lekela Power was announced and reached close in Q1, 2023.

Africa Leadership Team

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Lindsay Burgess

Group Head of Human Resources & Communications

Hein Reyneke

General Manager, South Africa

Matthew Simpson

Chief Financial Officer, South Africa

Birgitte Karlsen

Head of Legal & Compliance, SA

Christiaan Homann

Chief Technical Officer

Eugéne Marais

Head of Development & Standards

Lindsay Burgess

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Lindsay Burgess

Group Head of Human Resources & Communications

Lindsay joined the Mainstream team in October 2018.  Her core function is supporting the ExCo and regional leadership teams, and all employees across the global business to ensure HR best practice, wellness and engagement. She also leads the Communication function for the Group, overseeing internal and external communication channels, media management, event sponsorships and industry memberships.

Previously, she consulted to Mainstream as a Recruitment Manager from 2012 to 2018. Lindsay has over 20 years’ experience in the recruitment and executive search consulting profession and developed core skills in interviewing, assessments, business consulting, research and project management.

She holds a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Psychology and HR, and a Diploma in Public Relations and Business Communication.

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Hein Reyneke

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Hein Reyneke

General Manager, South Africa

Hein assumed the position of General Manager in 2016. He has direct responsibility for projects in development, construction and operations including taking the lead on Mainstream’s Africa initiatives late in 2016.

Since Hein joined Mainstream, his roles have included project and business development through to construction. Having worked in renewable energy since 2008, Hein has vast knowledge and experience in the industry.

Hein trained as a mechanical engineer and built a successful career in delivering complex projects and new business initiatives leading multi-disciplinary teams of professionals. His experience covers rewarding enterprises in the automotive, rail, marine and energy industries. He has been one of the pioneers of the South African renewable energy industry and a board member of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) from 2014 to 2018.

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Matthew Simpson

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Matthew Simpson

Chief Financial Officer, South Africa

Matthew joined Mainstream in 2021 as Head of Commercial, Africa. In this role, Matthew led the commercial function to secure PPA’s for wind and solar PV projects, involving tendering, structuring, negotiation, due diligence and ultimately close. In 2023, Matt was promoted to Head of Growth, Africa, continuing to lead the Commercial team into the next phase of Mainstream’s strategy of growing our presence in the private market, and energy trading.

Before Mainstream, Matthew worked at Eaglestone Capital Advisory, a project finance advisory boutique. During this period, Matthew advised several power and infrastructure clients on several corporate and project finance transactions across Africa. Previously, he was employed by Macquarie Capital Johannesburg, as part of the infrastructure sector team specialising in financial modelling, transaction and debt and equity procurement advisory.

Matthew is a Chartered Accountant, and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants; having completed his articles at KPMG Johannesburg in the financial services sector, bank audit.

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Birgitte Karlsen

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Birgitte Karlsen

Head of Legal & Compliance, SA

Birgitte joined Mainstream as General Counsel in October 2022, where she had responsibility for the legal and compliance functions across the Group.

She joined Mainstream from the position of General Counsel at Aker Offshore Wind following the company’s combination with Mainstream in August 2022.

She has worked in private practice within the energy sector for most of her career and since 2013 as a partner in the law firm Wikborg Rein.

Birgitte graduated with a law degree from the University of Bergen in 2002.

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Christiaan Homann

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Christiaan Homann

Chief Technical Officer

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Eugéne Marais

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Eugéne Marais

Head of Development & Standards

Eugéne heads up the development function for Africa. He manages the project portfolio and is responsible for the complete project development lifecycle from pre-feasibility to start of construction.

Eugéne joined Mainstream in 2011 and has worked in project development roles during that times. He has extensive experience with roles relating to planning, environmental and project management in the private and public sector since 1995, including ten years with Mayo County Council in Ireland as Executive Planner.

Eugene has a B.Art et Scien. Degree in Town and Regional Planning.

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Related Projects

Onshore wind
Offshore wind
Solar PV

Our team’s dedication to our country, coupled with our solid track record here, underpins our commitment to delivering renewable energy here in South Africa for many more decades to come.

Hein Reyneke – General Manager, Africa

CONTACT US

Cape Town Office

4th Floor Mariendahl House
Newlands on Main
Corner Main & Campground Roads
Claremont
7708, Cape Town

+27 (0)21 657 4040

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Michél Werth

Group Communications Specialist