AN ASSESSMENT OF THE OFFSHORE WIND OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
By Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, Jarredine Morris, Manav Khanna, and Chantelle Moyo
Southern Africa has significant offshore wind potential, particularly along the region's Atlantic coastline. While the region picks up the pace of its renewable energy rollout and looks to build up its industrial capabilities, offshore wind remains underexplored. Across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, offshore wind remains at an early stage of development, and no country has yet established the enabling conditions required for the technology to take-off. In this ground-clearing report, Southern Transitions explores how offshore wind should be understood as a medium- to long-term strategic opportunity for green industrial development at scale. Its potential value extends beyond electricity generation to energy system diversification, regional resilience, port-linked industrial development, and green industrialisation.
Southern Transitions convened a workshop in Walvis Bay, Namibia that focused on offshore wind potential in the southern African region. This work formed the basis of our comprehensive report.
Recommended citation: Montmasson-Clair, G., Morris, J., Khanna, M. and Moyo, C. (2026). Harnessing the Benguela and Agulhas currents: An assessment of the offshore wind opportunity in Southern Africa, Southern Transitions, Cape Town.