The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) will host the fourth international academic wind energy conference – WindAc Africa 2021 – at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre’s conference centre, in Cape Town, from October 5 to 7.

This academic exchange platform offers a special programme for high-potential young people from South African universities and the organisers are hoping to welcome 45 sponsored students at this year’s event.

SAWEA CEO Ntombifuthi Ntuli says wind energy research and technology development play a pivotal role in the renewable energy sector, “as it leads the way for advancement and progress, which is essential if we are to meet the growing demand for clean energy supply”.

The wind energy sector looks to the academic community to unpack and analyse investment capital, skills availability, land availability, grid access, operational excellency and investment in local supply chain development, all of which play a role in ensuring the industry will successfully deliver the required 14.4 GW of wind power by 2030.

The conference aims to create a path towards enabling and providing an integrated approach to research in achieving a successful power transition away from fossil fuels and towards a greater share of renewables, as outlined in the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP2019).

The conference brings together key stakeholders, including professionals, policymakers, academics, government representatives and civil society. It aims to facilitate strengthened partnerships for the on-the-ground implementation of renewable energy projects, to influence energy policy, and provide a framework to aid strategic decision-making.

“With the WindAc Africa conference, we aim to create a knowledge exchange platform in which dialogues between experienced researchers, motivated students and wind industry practitioners can take place for the benefit of the wind industry, as we gear up for a decade of growth in line with the approved IRP2019,” Ntuli adds.

Following a two-year break, this year’s conference will be themed “All things Wind Energy” and is expected to attract high-level delegations from the Ministry for Higher Education, Science and Technology.

The WindAc Africa 2021 programme is based on papers selected through rigorous peer review and final selection by a scientific advisory panel, states SAWEA.

The selected range of papers is geared towards sharing contemporary knowledge for an integrated approach to research in achieving a successful power transition away from coal and towards a greater share of renewables.

“We could not have chosen a better year to relaunch the WindAc Africa conference; 2021 is a year of change in the wind energy sector,” Ntuli says.