The need for energy on the continent remains high. Demographic growth has continued to outpace existing infrastructure and capacity, driving increasingly higher demand for energy, electricity in particular. Erratic electricity supply costs the business community in sub-Saharan Africa a reported equivalent of 25 working days of operations each year due to blackouts, a burden firms in Asia, Latin America, and Europe face to a far lesser degree. The direct consequences are twofold, higher operational expenses that eat into profits, and diminished international competitiveness, since the consistency of African goods cannot be assured. Closing this gap requires new, reliable sources of power, and offshore wind stands out as an underused solution worth serious investment.
Amidst its well-documented energy challenges, Africa also presents a fresh opportunity in offshore wind, a sector whose value lies both in meeting the continent’s own electricity needs and in positioning Africa as a global renewable energy player. Investing in offshore wind now would address energy poverty directly while also contributing to the broader transition away from fossil fuels.
Turning potential into partnerships
The absence of operating offshore wind projects in Africa, despite favourable wind conditions, does not reflect a lack of will. It rather reflects the need for pioneering partnerships and innovative financing models to unlock the continent’s renewable energy landscape. Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa have all been identified as having strong offshore wind resources. Turning this potential into deployed capacity will require aligned policy and political positions that guarantee the predictability and stability investors need.
South Africa presents an illustration of the potential and possibilities. Projections for its offshore wind capacity by 2050 fall into three broad tiers. A fragmented, unplanned approach yields just 5GW at high cost and low return. A mid-tier scenario, using green hydrogen as an offtake, reaches 15GW. The highest tier, 40GW, is only achievable with a full commitment to building a green hydrogen economy, underscoring how far a coordinated investment strategy can move the outcome. Morocco, meanwhile, is already progressing and set to launch Africa’s first offshore wind project by 2029. It is pegged to be a 1,000MW farm near Essaouira as announced at UNOC3 in Nice. Backed by the Blue Mediterranean Partnership, the project leverages coastal winds of 11m/s to advance Morocco’s national target of 52% renewable electricity by 2030.
The economic case for investment
As Morocco and South Africa lead the way, their policy frameworks and project experience will shape best practices for investment across the continent. The economic case for following them is compelling. Tapping just 5% of Africa’s offshore wind potential could deliver 338GW of new capacity and unlock over USD 1 trillion in economic benefits, including gains in industrial output (GVA), job creation, and energy security savings from reduced fossil fuel dependence. Coastal economies would also gain from port infrastructure and manufacturing investment, while avoiding significant CO₂ emissions annually would deliver real health and climate dividends. Together, these economic, social, and environmental returns make a strong case for channelling investment into offshore wind while the continent’s advantage is still largely untapped.
Offshore wind investment should not be seen as a coastal-only proposition. Through interconnectors, inland countries can draw electricity from offshore wind sources. Similarly, they can position themselves as manufacturers of components within the offshore wind supply chain. Offshore wind is therefore not just a coastal opportunity, it is a catalyst for continent-wide industrialization, regional energy security, and shared prosperity, and it merits investment from governments and financiers across Africa.
