6–7 October 2026 | CTICC 2, Cape Town
Windaba 2026 is almost here, and INSPIRE is looking forward to being part of the conversation! Taking place on 6–7 October 2026 at CTICC 2 in Cape Town, this year’s Windaba brings together stakeholders from across South Africa’s wind and renewable energy sector under the theme: Implementing Watt Matters: Policy. Power. People.
This year’s People pillar is particularly relevant to our work. The conversations around community participation, localisation, skills development, employee ownership and ensuring that the benefits of renewable energy are more broadly shared are closely connected to our work to strengthen social performance and support a people-centred just energy transition. And for us, the People pillar is also about who gets to be part of the conversation.
Community voices belong in the energy transition
Community Trusts are important shareholders in the renewable energy sector. They play a role in translating renewable energy investments into meaningful and sustainable community impact, making their experiences and perspectives an important part of conversations about the future of the sector – and that’s why we are encouraging Community Trusts to attend Windaba.
Windaba is an opportunity for Community Trusts to engage and learn more about the sector they are shareholders in, connect with key stakeholders, learn about developments affecting renewable energy, and bring their own experiences and perspectives into the conversation.
For Community Trusts attending Windaba, the programme offers opportunities to engage with discussions around policy, investment, infrastructure, community participation, jobs, skills, employee ownership and the broader impacts and benefits of the energy transition. It’s also an important space for community voices to be heard!
Join INSPIRE at Windaba
Throughout both days of Windaba, you’ll find INSPIRE at our exhibition stall – come and meet the team, learn more about our work, connect with us and explore some of our resources and publications, along with information about our work across social performance and the renewable energy sector.
And there’s something particularly exciting happening at the stall this year:
RE-wiring Social Performance is launching at Windaba
Our new book, RE-wiring Social Performance, will be launched at Windaba and will be available to purchase from the INSPIRE stall. The book brings together experiences and lessons from across the sector and reflects on our ongoing work to strengthen social performance and contribute to more meaningful outcomes from renewable energy development.
So whether you’re looking to learn more about INSPIRE, explore our resources, meet the team or get your copy of RE-wiring Social Performance, come and find us at the stall in the exhibition – we would love to connect with you!
Yumnaa Firfirey joins the Windaba conversation
INSPIRE will also be contributing directly to the Windaba programme.
On Day 2, 7 October, from 15:30–16:30, Yumnaa Firfirey will be speaking in the session: Windaba Exchange: Employee Ownership in RE
The session sits within Windaba’s People pillar, making it particularly relevant to the conversations we are bringing to the event. Employee ownership, community participation and the distribution of benefits are all part of the wider question of how renewable energy development can create meaningful and sustainable value for people.
We’re looking forward to bringing INSPIRE’s perspective into this conversation and engaging with others working across the sector.
A dedicated space for Community Trusts
Alongside our presence at the Windaba exhibition, INSPIRE is hosting a dedicated Coffee Morning for Community Trusts:
Welcoming all Community Trusts to join us: 7 October 2026 | 07:00 | Coffee on the Circle | CTICC 2
The Coffee Morning is an informal briefing and networking opportunity specifically for Community Trusts. We’ll provide a short briefing on what to expect at Windaba, before creating space for trustees to ask questions, meet one another, network and connect with the INSPIRE team.
Through our Trust Matters initiative, INSPIRE is committed to centring community voices in renewable energy and strengthening the role of Community Trusts in the sector, and the Coffee Morning is one way we’re putting that commitment into practice: creating a space where Community Trusts can come together, connect and enter the Windaba conversation. Community Trusts are also welcome to connect with us at the INSPIRE stall throughout the two-day event.
Be part of the conversation
Windaba 2026 will explore the policy, power and people needed to move South Africa’s renewable energy ambitions into action. For us that means contributing to the sector conversation while also creating opportunities for community voices to be part of it.
We look forward to connecting with developers, policymakers, investors, industry colleagues, communities, researchers and partners at Windaba – and particularly to the Community Trusts who will be joining us: this is your conversation too!
