WindAC Africa 2025 Driving Innovation, Skills, and Solutions for Africa’s Energy Transition

Johannesburg, 09 October 2025: The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) is proud to announce the return of 8th WindAc Africa 2025, the academic conference that bridges research, innovation, and industry in the wind energy sector. WindAC will take place alongside the 14th Windaba Conference and Exhibition, taking place from 21-23 October 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC 2). 

Positioned at the intersection of policy, academia, and technology, WindAc responds directly to national frameworks such as the Just Energy Transition (JET) Skills Development Plan and the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM). By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, the conference is helping to build the strong talent pipeline and innovative technologies required to meet South Africa’s urgent energy needs. 

“WindAC Africa has become a cornerstone for nurturing the next generation of talent and advancing new thinking in renewable energy. The purpose of the conference is to ensure that the work presented is not only academically robust, but also relevant to the real challenges of South Africa’s energy transition,” said Morongoa Ramaboa, Chief Communication Officer at SAWEA. 

The three-day programme features site visits, including a visit to a wind farm, along with academic paper presentations and high-level panel discussions that connect academic insights to practical solutions. This year, 19 abstracts have been submitted by researchers from leading universities and research institutions, ensuring a rich and diverse body of knowledge. These will be reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), made up of leading academics and industry experts, to guarantee the highest standards of quality, innovation, and relevance. The submissions reflect a broad range of themes, from technological advances and climate change impacts on wind energy to renewable system integration and the social, environmental, and economic aspects of wind power development. 

While researchers shape the knowledge exchange, WindAc Africa also places strong emphasis on the participation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. “Each year, we explore various ways that we can make the renewable energy solutions and innovations accessible to as many young people as possible, and our vision is to see an overwhelming representation of learners in the TVET colleges because of their critical role in building and nurturing a skills pipeline required to stimulate the country’s economy holistically. Developing vocational or occupational skills that are practical in response to our fast-changing skills-demand in the sector is now more critical than ever”  

By strengthening cooperation between African universities, TVET institutions, and the wind industry, WindAC Africa demonstrates SAWEA’s commitment to building human capital and advancing education as a cornerstone of the just energy transition. The conference serves as both a platform for sharing cutting-edge research and a space for preparing the next generation of energy professionals who will help secure a sustainable future for South Africa and the continent. 

For more information on WindAc Africa 2025, sponsorship opportunities, and registration details, kindly visit https://sawea.org.za/windac-2025