South Africa’s wind industry is ready to grow, but limited grid capacity remains a major hurdle.
G7 Renewables CEO Dr Kilian Hagemann warns that, despite the legal unbundling of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) from Eskom Holdings, both still report to Eskom, creating conflicts of interest that could slow market reform.
The upcoming South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM), launching in April 2026, could open new routes for wind projects to sell power, complementing existing procurement programmes and direct agreements. However, grid access rules and pending Market Codes must be resolved first.
Integrated Transmission Procurement programmes offer some opportunities but largely favour large utilities, limiting local developers’ lead roles.
Looking ahead, hybrid projects combining wind, solar, and storage could thrive with technology-agnostic auctions, improved permitting, and prioritised grid access. With the right support, South Africa’s wind capacity could grow from 3.4 GW today to over 10 GW by 2035 – unlocking a more sustainable and reliable energy future.
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