The winds of change: Why wind power will lead South Africa’s renewable future

IF YOU have driven through the Eastern, Western or Northern Cape recently, you may have seen convoys of trucks transporting massive wind turbine blades. They are difficult to miss; long, narrow and striking against the red Karoo dust.

- Zaahid Ganey

WIND energy is scaling up, says the author.

(Supplied)

For many, these vehicles are just another road delay. For us, they are a signal that the centre of gravity in South Africa’s energy system is shifting.

Wind energy is scaling up. Quietly, consistently and with far less fanfare than solar, it is becoming the most important contributor to our future electricity mix. Based on the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, South Africa's installed wind capacity is anticipated to grow from around 4 gigawatts today to 34 gigawatts by 2039. That is almost nine times increase over the next 14 years, which compared to solar is expected to increase by four times over the same period.

Why Wind Works — Technically and Economically