The broader South African wind energy sector will need to up its employment by between 300% and 400% by 2042 if it is to keep pace with the proposed expansion of wind energy in the country, says Vestas Southern and Eastern Africa MD Johannes Helberg.

Speaking at the recent Africa Energy Forum 2026 at a South African Renewable Energy Masterplan roundtable, he said South Africa’s installed wind energy base was expected to reach 7.5 GW by the end of the year, expanding to 43 GW by 2042.

The current total headcount in the industry is 3 750 people, with this number expected to grow to more than 20 000 people by 2042 to meet the expected demand.

Companies within the wind energy sector, and in the broader industry, through the South African Wind Energy Association, are all working to develop the necessary skills, including attempts to capture interest at school level.

Helberg emphasised, however, that the realisation of this level of jobs growth very much depended on policy certainty regarding the rollout of wind energy and its long-term future in South Africa.

The current stop-start seen in renewables procurement has, for example, taken its toll on manufacturers.

“Supply chains are also shrinking between procurement rounds.

“Factories do not survive on ambition. They survive on order books.

“Manufacturing facilities such as GRI Towers are under severe pressure as a result of this start-stop effect.

“Global experience teaches us that localisation follows market certainty. Brazil, India and Türkiye all successfully developed manufacturing ecosystems because investors could see a long-term market,” added Helberg.

“Localisation follows demand. Demand does not follow localisation.”

Helberg said the wind industry required a predictable project pipeline to grow.

“Investors need long-term visibility before committing capital. Give us the pipeline, and industry will provide the localisation.”

Equally important is the need to urgently expand South Africa’s power grid capacity to ensure that the number of proposed wind power projects can all move from blueprint to commissioning.

Helberg also noted that the definition of localisation should be broadened to include skills development; technician training; apprenticeships; digital operations; engineering services; and research-and-development efforts.

“A South African technician maintaining a turbine is just as much a localisation success as a South African factory producing a component.”

The wind industry had already demonstrated its commitment to localisation through jobs, skills development, technician training, bursaries, manufacturing initiatives and community investment, said Helberg.

“The lesson from South Africa and international markets is clear – provide policy certainty, procurement visibility and grid access, and industry will continue investing, localising and creating jobs at scale.”