Africa Wind Capacity Tops 11 GW, GWEC Reports
A new Global Wind Energy Council report released at Windaba 2026 in Cape Town tracks rapid growth in African wind power.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Africa
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The Global Wind Energy Council released its Status of Wind in Africa 2026 report at Windaba 2026 in Cape Town, showing installed wind capacity across the continent has surpassed 11 GW, up from just under 9 GW in 2023. Morocco has joined South Africa and Egypt as the third African market to exceed 2 GW of installed wind power.
Why it matters
The report identifies the policy and financing measures that helped leading markets grow, including stable procurement frameworks, bankable contracts and grid investment. Its findings suggest African wind development still has substantial room to expand, with less than 0.02% of technical potential developed so far.
The Global Wind Energy Council's Status of Wind in Africa 2026 report puts installed capacity above 11 GW, compared with just under 9 GW in 2023. Nearly 90% of that capacity is concentrated in three countries, and less than 0.02% of the continent's technical wind potential has been developed.
The players
Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
The GWEC is the global trade association for the wind energy industry, publishing market reports and advocating for wind power development worldwide.
Nigeria Wind Energy Council
The Nigeria Wind Energy Council promotes wind energy development in Nigeria and sent a delegation to Windaba 2026.
The details
Egypt is constructing the continent's first gigawatt-scale wind farm, while South Africa's corporate power market has driven record wind procurement. Private buyers in South Africa signed more wind contracts in two and a half years than the government procured in the previous fifteen.
Timeline
In 2023, Africa's installed wind capacity was just under 9 GW, the baseline for the GWEC's first Status of Wind in Africa report.
In October 2026, Windaba 2026 was held in Cape Town, where the latest report was released.
Roadmap
The 2026 Status of Wind in Africa report updates the Global Wind Energy Council's 2023 baseline, when installed capacity stood just under 9 GW. Its findings point to a continent that has added roughly 2 GW in three years while still developing less than 0.02% of its technical wind potential.
Travelers visiting Cape Town or other wind-active African markets may see new renewable projects in progress along the way. The report's findings are aimed at developers and policymakers rather than visitors, so they do not change travel logistics directly.
The takeaway
Africa's wind sector has grown quickly, but most of its technical potential remains untapped. Stable procurement and grid investment are the levers the report highlights for reaching 50 GW and beyond.
Further reading
For more on the continent's energy build-out, see Africa travel coverage.
More information
Download the GWEC Status of Wind in Africa 2026 report from the Global Wind Energy Council website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Crown.
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