Five years ago a study by the International Finance Corporation found that Africa has an onshore wind potential of almost 180 000 TWh per year. That would be enough for the entire continent’s electricity needs – 250 times over. Yet currently, Africa has a wind farm operating capacity of about 9 GW. Which is only about 1% of the global total. The UK, for example, about 125 times smaller in land mass than Africa, has more than 30 GW of wind capacity, while China (one-third in size) in 2024 had a wind power capacity exceeding 560 GW. This includes around 86 GW added just last year, according to the World Wind Energy Association.

Currently most of Africa’s renewable assets consist of solar. According to Bloomberg, the continent had 22 GW of solar capacity in 2024, compared to only 8.8 GW of wind capacity.

Wind energy has attracted investment more slowly than solar for several reasons. Wind resources are less widely available than solar irradiation sites, and wind projects require higher upfront capital. Developing a wind farm also takes significantly longer than building a solar facility, involves more complex engineering expertise and demands more intensive management and maintenance. Additionally, wind power typically needs to be developed at scale – generally with a capacity of 50 MW or more to be cost-effective. In comparison, solar power can be viable for small and large installations. However, wind holds a significant advantage: it can potentially generate electricity around the clock. This makes it especially valuable in regions where industries such as mining and manufacturing require uninterrupted, 24-hour power.

However, so far, only a handful of African countries have been truly successful in harnessing their wind potential, among them Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, Senegal, South Africa, Kenya and Mauritania, while Djibouti has just commissioned its first 60 MW wind farm near Ghoubet Bay.

South Africa has about 30% of the continent’s installed wind energy capacity. According to the South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea), it has so far procured 4 392 MW of wind energy, with 3 789 MW already installed. The Global Wind Energy Council says that ‘while there was significant momentum in the early 2010s, procurement slowed towards the end of the decade. 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, however; and only 784 MW of the 1 608 MW awarded are currently under construction’.

The council says the 2024 South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey ‘identifies a pipeline of 53 GW of wind and wind-hybrid projects for development over the next 5–8 years, with 33 GW potentially completed by 2030. The draft IRP2024 reflects this ambition, indicating that between 69 GW and 76 GW of wind energy will be needed between 2031 and 2050 across all considered scenarios’.

The council says ‘significant reforms’ were introduced in 2022 in South Africa, including the establishment of an independent transmission operator, the removal of the 100 MW private generation limit and the granting of electricity trading licences to private sector companies. ‘Since then, at least 15 private off-take projects totalling 1 943 MW have been announced and are either under construction or will begin later this year. The first private off-take wind project to deliver power through the national grid was the 69 MW Msenge Emoyeni Wind Farm, completed in October 2024, which supplies power from the Eastern Cape to a petrochemical producer in the Free State,’ the council reports. ‘Most private off-takers are in the mining and petrochemical industries and are looking at renewable energy as they seek to move towards decarbonisation. In addition, several wind projects have signed agreements with traders and aggregators, signalling the arrival of the power trading market, even in areas outside the Cape regions, such as Mpumalanga province. Mpumalanga has long been the heart of South Africa’s coal power generation, hosting the majority of Eskom’s coal-fired power stations. The construction of Ummbila Emoyeni, the province’s first wind farm, signals a significant shift towards renewable energy.’

The ZAR5 billion, 155 MW Mpumalanga wind project reached financial close earlier this year. It forms part of Seriti Green’s larger 900 MW hybrid energy complex, Ummbila Emoyeni, to be built in phases across 27 000 ha in the province and which will incorporate wind, solar and battery storage components. A 15-year power purchase agreement has been signed between Seriti Green and the Energy Exchange of Southern Africa, an energy trader. Seriti Green is partly owned by Seriti Resources, a major South African coal miner.

The wind project will feature 25 turbines and produce some 525 GWh annually once in full production. It is expected to begin generating electricity in October 2027.

Seriti Green CEO Peter Venn says the agreement signals a pivotal shift in South Africa’s energy market, enabling independent power producers and traders to supply dependable, environmentally friendly electricity that promises lasting benefits for the country’s energy security and sustainability. ‘Supporting the electricity trading market drives generation growth which is excellent for the economy, social development and the just energy transition,’ he told Engineering News.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the country, independent power producer Red Rocket has successfully reached financial close on phase 2 of the Overberg Wind Farm. Located 12 km west of Swellendam in the Western Cape, it will become South Africa’s ‘largest wind farm, the second largest in Africa, and will rank among the top 15 worldwide upon completion’, according to Red Rocket. When it’s completed, Overberg will feature 63 turbines, delivering a total installed capacity of 400 MW.

Until Overberg, there were only two wind facilities in Africa bigger than 300 MW – Lake Turkana in Kenya and Tarfaya in Morocco.

Phase 1 of Overberg, which started construction in March 2025, is projected to generate 750 GWh of clean energy annually for Richards Bay Minerals. Phase 2 will introduce an additional 158 MW capacity for Discovery Green, ‘facilitating renewable power distribution to clients such as Impala Platinum Holdings Limited, Fortress Real Estate Investments and Balwin Properties via wheeling mechanisms’. The second phase is expected to produce more than 489 GWh per year, says the company.

‘Beyond its immediate impact, Overberg Wind Farm aligns with our broader ambition to expand renewable energy infrastructure across Africa. With 4 GW of projects either operational, under construction or approaching financial close, we are making a significant contribution to South Africa’s energy security and grid resilience,’ says Red Rocket CEO Matteo Brambilla.

The Global Wind Energy Council says wind energy is ‘expected to remain the preferred renewable energy source for long-term planning’ in South Africa.

However, it says grid connection capacity is a major obstacle to accelerating wind energy deployment in the country.

‘The highest wind resource regions lack sufficient connection capacity, which has caused numerous projects to be stranded,’ the council reports.

‘The National Transmission Company South Africa’s 2025–2034 Transmission Development Plan prioritises grid strengthening and expan-sion in these regions. However, there is a shortage of resources for the necessary scale of expansion. The National Treasury plans to use independent transmission projects to involve the private sector in expanding the national grid.’

These sentiments were echoed by Niveshen Govender, CEO of Sawea. He says that while significant progress has been made, unlocking grid capacity remains the ‘most critical enabler’ for scaling wind energy.

‘It is the top priority for the industry – and encouragingly, it is now recognised as one of government’s national energy priorities, with clear signals of commitment through policy, planning, and early-stage reforms.

‘One such signal is the recent regulatory breakthrough in transmission: [the] congestion curtailment framework, unlocking constrained capacity in high wind resource areas. […] This is a positive step for stimulating the constrained wind energy market. Long-term solutions that adequately address grid congestion through the development of transmission infrastructure in line with the Transmission Development Plan are required for us to sustain industry growth.

‘The acceleration of private procurement, underpinned by the liberalisation of transmission and distribution networks through wheeling frameworks, is opening new market pathways,’ says Govender.

‘This, combined with the anticipated launch of the first Bid Window for independent transmission projects in November 2025, signals a new era of accelerated infrastructure investment and industrial decarbonisation.’

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