The 14th Windaba Conference and Exhibition took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 21-23 October, drawing investors, government representatives, service providers, developers and environmental organisations. Opening the event, Minister of Energy and Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa stressed the need for available, affordable and reliable energy, noting that more than 15 years of energy insecurity have constrained economic growth. South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) CEO Niveshen Govender said the Minister’s participation offered an important opportunity to align government policy with the wind and renewable energy sector’s capabilities.
South Africa’s pipeline continues to expand, with more than 50GW of wind projects under development, an increase of 60% from 2023. According to SAWEA chief communication officer Morongoa Ramaboa, the 2024 South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey highlights the urgent need for grid expansion and identifies growth opportunities particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The 2025 theme, Break the Gridlock! Wire for Growth!, placed grid access at the centre of discussions. Grid constraints remain one of the most significant barriers to scaling wind development, and two panel sessions featuring senior representatives from Eskom, the Department of Energy and independent power companies examined the reforms and investment required to unlock grid capacity.
Another session focused on streamlining approvals, a process often slowed by fragmented regulations and high application volumes. The Manager of the Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition,Mahlatsi Ndhlovu said the department is working to simplify the process. “This is done through the DTIC’s Single Window Application portal (SWAP), designed to help developers speed up the application process for renewable energy projects,” explained Ndlovu..
Environmental companies also featured strongly as awareness grows regarding the role of bats and birds of prey in agriculture and ecosystems. While the industry acknowledges risks posed by turbines, technology is rapidly advancing. Roc Conservation Tech showcased its AI-driven bird detection system, which can identify the endangered Cape vulture and nearly 30 other bird species with over 99% accuracy from 1.5km away and can automatically shut down turbines when necessary.
One gap still evident is the limited uptake of wind power for commercial farming. Many exhibitors said farmers hesitate due to the cost and length of feasibility studies and wind-measuring processes. “We started a wind-measuring project in 2005 and we are still busy with it,” said Wayne Flint, Managing Director of W indhunter Africa. Donaway Environmental’s Johan Botha added that feasibility work must assess wind speed, land geography and environmental and social factors, with environmental impact studies often required if excess power will be sold back to the grid. Windaba 2025 ultimately reinforced that South Africa’s wind sector is ready to scale but unlocking grid capacity remains the key to moving from ambitious project pipelines to real generation and investment.