The seventh yearly WindAc Africa conference, organised by the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), is drawing near.

It will take place from October 1 to 3 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), running concurrently with the Windaba Conference and Exhibition.

WindAc Africa is an engagement platform for the academic community and student delegates to explore pivotal facets of wind energy advancement. The event is envisioned to become Africa's premier academic wind conference and a leading platform for advancing wind energy knowledge and nurturing future leaders in the field.

This year, WindAc Africa is looking to provide opportunities for outstanding wind energy students from Southern African research institutions through its leadership sponsorship programme. Amplifying awareness of wind power supply across Africa and globally supports the WindAc Africa endeavour to strengthen collaboration between African universities and the wind industry.

The conference will serve as a catalyst for students to pursue academic paths aligned with wind energy, providing a platform for networking with peers and industry luminaries, SAWEA says.

Discussions at WindAc Africa will cover a range of subjects within the changing energy landscape, serving as a nexus of insights intended to promote innovation and drive forward-thinking solutions to difficulties facing the wind energy industry.

These topics will range from grid capacity, policy and regulatory framework that will drive clean energy transitions, to wind technology innovation.

Further, the conference will scrutinise wind energy's role in the burgeoning African market, its potential for socioeconomic growth and the strategies needed to ensure energy security.

Attention will also be directed towards confronting some of the challenges hindering the rapid deployment of wind energy and addressing pertinent industry issues, such as logistical and project development hurdles.

Special emphasis will be placed on the localisation of wind energy endeavours and how to navigate the burgeoning realm of offshore wind in South Africa, while also addressing the social and environmental impacts inherent in wind energy initiatives.

A significant aspect of the conference will focus on the submission of academic abstracts. Researchers and academics in the renewable energy space are invited to submit these for consideration by May 8, with full paper submissions due by July 25.

The primary drive behind WindAc Africa 2024 is to pave the way for a robust, inclusive, and sustainable wind energy future for Africa and beyond through cooperative debate and knowledge exchange, SAWEA says.