The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has unveiled the theme for this year’s Windaba conference, ‘Renaissance of the Wind Energy Industry - Delivering Economic Benefits for South Africa’ .
The two-day event, which returns to the Cape Town International Convention Centre following a virtual instance of the event last year, is scheduled to take place on October 7 and 8.
Speaking to the theme, SAWEA CEO Ntombifuthi Ntuli says the industry is celebrating the rebirth of the wind industry this year, hence the theme’s alignment with positive developments in the sector.
“Last year, we saw the Ministerial determination for procurement of renewables and other energy technologies being issued, promptly followed by the long awaited Bid Window 5, which was issued in March, after a seven-year internal period. So it is indeed a new season for the sector and the opportunity to deliver on the much anticipated economic benefits for the South African economy.”
Ntuli adds that the wind industry has come a long way since the launch of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and the first bidding window in 2012.
During this decade, almost 3.4 GW wind power capacity has been built, attracting over R80.5-billion of investment into the economy. More than 100 wind turbine technicians have been trained and have graduated; 30 000 job years created; and beneficiary communities across the country have been empowered.
“Today, we have a solid and mature industry that is ready to build an additional 14.4 GW of wind power capacity over the next decade that will constitute a fair share of the country’s total power system, a vision that will be unpacked at Windaba this year,” Ntuli states.