South Africa’s New Electricity Market Framework Draws Cautious Optimism from Wind Industry
South Africa’s upcoming wholesale electricity market has generated significant interest from wind power developers, who see both promise and peril in the new framework. Industry representatives emphasized the need to address structural risks and ensure proper market independence during recent discussions at Windaba 2025.
Industry Leaders Assess SAWEM’s Potential
The scheduled April 2026 launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) is generating cautious optimism within the wind power sector, according to industry representatives speaking at the Windaba 2025 conference in Cape Town. While acknowledging the market’s transformative potential, multiple executives highlighted significant structural challenges that require resolution before the system goes live.