Renewable energy + energy management
The opportunity: The sector’s readiness shows that South Africa can exceed current policy targets, po- tentially accelerating decarbonisation, job creation, and energy security. The challenge: Without corresponding grid invest- ment and enabling regulatory reform, much of this capacity risks remaining stranded, delaying the country’s energy transition. However, through SAREGS, NTCSA has a robust, data- driven tool to map and guide transmission development proactively across the country. The findings reinforce the urgent need to fast-track transmission infrastructure build, modernise grid operations, and adopt flexible planning frameworks that can accommodate faster renewable uptake than currently envisioned by the IRP. “The SAREGS 2025 results make it clear that South Africa’s renewable energy sector is ready, and eager to deliver,” says Govender. “With 60 GW of wind projects planned for grid connection within seven years, it is clear that the pipeline is ahead of policy, and the next frontier lies in unlocking grid access to convert this potential into usable generation capacity.” Key findings Wind and wind hybrid projects now account for over 110 GW, representing more than 50% of total report- ed planned capacity. Wind and wind + BESS – 60 GW. Wind projects Type A (in advanced development) – 17 GW. Industry engagement has surged with 673 contribu- tors in 2025 (483 in 2024). Project maturity continues to strengthen, with 72 GW classified as Type A (advanced development) and 45 GW as Type B (under development). Geographically, mature developments remain con- centrated in the Cape and Hydra regions, with new projects expanding into previously underused grid zones. An increasing number of projects now provide ancil- lary services – enhancing grid resilience. The sector is showing a strategic shift towards hybrid and co-located projects, optimising land use, gener- ation profiles, and grid efficiency. SAREGS continues to inform national planning in- struments, including the Transmission Development Plan (TDP), and Integrated Transmission Projects (ITPs).
transparent grid planning process that supports public and private sector investment.” SAREGS 2024 delivered valuable stakeholder data, representing over 120 GW of South African energy generation projects under development. The 2025 results reflect a maturing collaboration between government, grid operators, and the private sector. The insights generated will inform Eskom’s TDP and Grid Capacity Connection Assessments (GCCA), helping to align infrastructure delivery with the pace of renewable energy development. SAPVIA and SAWEA have called on independent power producers to continue engaging with the survey process in future iterations to ensure planning remains responsive to market realities. Comment from SAWEA The 2025 South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey reveals 72 GW of renewable energy projects at advanced stages of development – projects that could be ready to connect to the grid within the next seven years. This aligns with the 71.7 GW total capacity (wind and solar PV combined) envisioned in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 over the longer timeframe of a 16-year horizon. The survey reaffirms that South Africa’s renewable energy sector is aligned with IRP ambitions – and well ahead of them – demonstrating investor confidence, project maturity, and delivery readiness across the value chain. Led by the NTCSA in collaboration with the South African Wind Energy Association and the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association, SAREGS continues to serve as a critical coordination tool that aligns the national development pipeline with transmission planning and investment decisions. It emphasises the growing need for collaborative action between industry and government to ensure grid infrastructure keeps pace with market momentum. “The survey shows exponential growth across all technologies in renewable energy, with wind increasing from 43.8 GW in 2024 to as much as 60 GW this year, (excluding hybrid projects),” says Niveshen Govender, CEO of SAWEA. Over the past four years, the renewable energy pipeline has expanded from 63 GW in 2022 to 220 GW in 2025, a more than threefold increase, highlighting the sector’s sustained growth and the urgency of grid expansion, flexibility, and modernisation to support accelerated deployment. Aligning with the IRP, implications for wind energy The IRP 2025 allocates 43 GW of new onshore wind capacity by 2042, averaging roughly 2.7 GW per year. In contrast, SAREGS 2025 identifies over 60 GW of wind projects already in development, including 17 GW of advanced or shovel-ready capacity with most of this capacity expected to come online in the next five years. This gap between policy allocation and pipeline reality presents a strategic opportunity and a critical challenge.
For more information visit: www.ntcsa.co.za
12 Electricity + Control DEC 2025 - JAN 2026
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker