The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has achieved two pioneering milestones that advance gender diversity in renewable energy.

The first achievement relates to SAWEA’s involvement with South Africa’s first Gender Diversity Study in Renewable Energy, in partnership with the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association and the Deutsche Gesselschaft für Interntionale Zusammenarbeit.

The study finds that women only account for 33.2% of the energy workforce, with 42% of these roles being temporary and 26% of them being top management positions. Additionally, only 19% of board seats are held by women.

SAWEA CEO Niveshen Govender says the Gender Diversity Study was conceptualised more than five years ago by late former CEO of the organisation, Ntombifuti Ntuli before the study was officially launched on August 29 as a national key report.

Govender emphasises the importance of the renewable-energy sector dismantling barriers for women and that transformation is not a parallel goal to the energy transition but an integral part of it.

“The Gender Diversity Study offers a baseline for the industry, enabling those in the sector to track progress and shine a light on where inclusivity is lagging. By anchoring transformation in data, it allows the sector to commit to tangible advancements in leadership, talent development and overall equality,” Govender states.

The second achievement relates to SAWEA’s Windaba 2025 conference that will be moderated by women only, which places women at the centre of the wind industry’s most influential platform.

This marks the first time in both South Africa and the global renewable energy sector that a major conference will be fully moderated by women.

SAWEA says the move demonstrates the depth of talent, expertise and leadership that women bring to the renewable-energy sector, with Windaba showcasing women as participants as well as agenda-setters shaping policy, finance, project design, markets and enterprise leadership.

“We are shaping a renewable-energy ecosystem that truly reflects and unleashes the full breadth of South African talents. The just energy transition is about more than megawatts, it is about people.

“Representation alone is not enough. Real inclusion means women shaping and leading the sector,” Govender concludes.