Policy reform is necessary to boost the growth of South Africa’s wind energy industry in order for the country to reach its full potential, according to the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA).
South Africa was singled out by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) as a market poised to lead wind energy growth on the African continent, containing 30% of the continent’s installed wind energy capacity. This is according to the GWEC’s latest Global Wind Report for 2025.
In a chapter authored by SAWEA, the association explained that momentum has been lost for wind energy in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) following its success in the 2010s.
“The last successful procurement window for wind occurred in 2021 with 1 608 MW of wind projects announced. Half of these projects failed to reach commercial close due to global supply chain pressures,” SAWEA said. Only 784 MW of the 1 608 MW awarded are currently under construction.
The association further highlighted that growth in wind energy continues to be constrained by the national grid. Numerous wind projects have been left stranded in areas with no access to the grid. In response to the recently announced Transmission Development Plan, SAWEA is concerned that there is a shortage of resources for the necessary scale of expansion.
South Africa was earmarked as a market to watch, however, due to hopeful developments in policy revision. The newly approved Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which will establish a wholesale electricity market, will allow wind energy to expand nationally and regionally through the Southern African Power Pool.
The association added that it is aware of government’s plans to reform and restructure the REIPPPP to address current obstacles slowing wind energy adoption.
Reforms to the private offtaker wind market, established in 2022, are already bearing fruit. Since government removed the 100 MW distributed generation limit, 15 private offtake projects totalling 1 943 MW have been announced. Most private offtakers are in the mining and petrochemical industries.
The direction of the South African wind energy industry will depend on the revised Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), according to SAWEA.
“In the short term, the wind energy industry awaits the revised IRP 2024, which will provide direction for new electricity infrastructure over the next two decades and help restore investor confidence,” the association concluded.
