The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) remains optimistic about prospects for ongoing growth in South Africa, stating in its newly released ‘Global Wind Report 2026’ that the country has about 17 GW of advanced projects that could enter construction within the next five years.

While acknowledging the grid constraints that are limiting wind installations, the report nevertheless describes South Africa as an attractive market.

“By the end of 2025, South Africa remained the largest wind energy market in Africa, with more than 4 GW of operational capacity, approximately 2.8 GW currently under construction, and a growing pipeline of over 60 GW.

“Of this pipeline, roughly 17 GW of projects are at advanced stages of development, with a significant portion expected to reach financial close or construction within the next five years,” the report states.

It argues further that this robust project pipeline, combined with increasing policy certainty, ongoing market reforms and expanded transmission investment, reinforces South Africa’s position as one of the most attractive renewable-energy markets in Africa for international investors.

“Wind energy is expected to remain central to the country’s energy transition and future electricity supply, supporting both energy security objectives and long-term decarbonisation goals,” the report states.

The Integrated Resource Plan, it notes, envisages 43 GW of new wind capacity being installed by 2042, representing a significant portion of the 114 GW of new generation to be introduced by that date.

GWEC states that the market reforms introduced over the past two years by government have also started to translate into tangible progress across procurement pipelines, grid planning and increased private-sector participation.

“A key enabling instrument is the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which provides the legislative framework for restructuring the electricity market. The Act supports the gradual liberalisation of the power sector and establishes the foundation for an independent Transmission System Operator.”

Also highlighted is progress in the ongoing unbundling of Eskom, with GWEC noting that the National Transmission Company South Africa has already assumed a more prominent role in grid planning, connection processes and transmission development.

Nevertheless, the report underlines the fact that transmission constraints remain a critical challenge to the expansion of renewables.

“Grid capacity limitations in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, where the majority of wind and solar resources are located, continue to act as a bottleneck for new project connections,” it states.

While noting progress in implementing the R440-billion Transmission Development Plan, GWEC concludes that the pace of transmission development will lag behind the rapid growth of renewable projects.

“As a result, grid constraints and curtailment risks may persist in the near to medium term.”

Published on April 20, the report also confirms that the global wind industry installed a record-breaking 165 GW of new wind capacity in 2025, a 40% improvement on the previous year, which raised global capacity to 1 299 GW by the end of 2025.

In the coming five years to 2030, GWEC projects that a total of 969 GW of new wind capacity could be commissioned at an average yearly rate of 194 GW.

Global wind capacity, it adds, is now projected to surpass 2 TW by 2029, having breached 1 TW in 2023.