The 2026 SAWEA Industry Awards Ceremony will take place during the WINDABA Gala Dinner on 7 October 2026.
As an organisation that promotes, advocates, endorses, and facilitates a thriving wind energy industry, SAWEA seeks to recognise, validate and honour individuals and organisations that consistently contribute to growth of the wind energy sector, in their respective areas of excellence across the win energy value chain.
Nomination Motivation
Maximum 500 words
Suggested guidance for your nomination:
What makes the nominee deserving of this award?
What measurable impact has the nominee achieved?
What evidence demonstrates excellence?
How has the nominee contributed to the South African wind industry?
Why should the nominee be recognised above others?
Supporting Evidence
Examples: CV, Awards, References, Publications, Project examples, Media, LinkedIn
AWARD CATEGORIES:
Bright Spark Award Category
Award Description: Recognises an emerging professional (typically within the first 5-8 years of their career), below the age of 35, who has demonstrated exceptional promise, innovation, leadership and commitment to advancing South Africa's wind energy sector. The award celebrates individuals whose contributions have already made a meaningful impact on their organisation or the wider industry.
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
Professional Achievement: Demonstrates exceptional performance and achievement early in their career within the South African wind energy sector.
Innovation and Initiative: Introduces new ideas, solutions or approaches that improve business performance, project delivery or industry practices.
Leadership Potential: Demonstrates initiative, accountability, collaboration and the ability to influence positive outcomes beyond their role.
Contribution to the Industry: Has made meaningful contributions to their organisation or the wider wind industry through technical, commercial, operational or community initiatives.
Future Impact: Shows strong potential to become a future leader within the South African wind energy sector.
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Implementing Watt Matters: People
Award Description: Recognises a wind energy organisation that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in delivering and connecting significant wind energy capacity to the South African electricity grid, contributing meaningfully to the growth, integration, and reliability of wind power in the national electricity system. The award celebrates tangible delivery and the organisation’s contribution to turning wind energy projects into operational generating capacity.
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
Community Impact: Demonstrates measurable improvements to the quality of life within surrounding communities.
Sustainability: Creates long-term social and economic benefits beyond project construction.
Inclusivity: Promotes meaningful participation of local communities and vulnerable groups.
Innovation: Applies creative and effective approaches to community development.
Evidence of Success: Demonstrates measurable outcomes supported by evidence.
Excellence Award - EPC
Award Description: Recognises an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor that has demonstrated excellence in project execution through outstanding safety, quality, delivery performance, innovation, collaboration and effective risk management while contributing to the successful delivery of wind energy projects.
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
Project Delivery Excellence: Demonstrates successful delivery of wind projects within agreed quality, cost and schedule objectives.
Health, Safety and Quality: Maintains high standards of safety performance and quality assurance throughout project execution.
Technical Capability: Demonstrates engineering excellence and effective project management.
Innovation: Introduces innovative construction methods, technologies or processes.
Client and Stakeholder Collaboration: Demonstrates strong collaboration with clients, contractors, communities and project stakeholders.
Implementing Watt Matters: Power
Award Description: Recognises a wind energy stakeholder that has demonstrated excellence in connecting the most MW
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
MW connected: Demonstrated the highest total MW of wind capacity successfully connected to the grid during the qualifying period.
Successful project delivery: Demonstrated consistent achievement in bringing wind projects from development through to successful grid connection.
Grid connection performance: Demonstrated effective planning and execution of the grid connection process, including achievement of key connection milestones.
Technical and regulatory compliance: Projects successfully met applicable grid connection, technical and regulatory requirements.
Contribution to wind deployment: Demonstrated a significant contribution to increasing operational wind capacity in South Africa.
Delivery excellence: Demonstrated an effective approach to managing technical, development, and implementation challenges to achieve successful connections.
Watt-a-Woman Leadership Award
Award Description: Recognises an outstanding female leader who has made a significant contribution to the South African wind energy sector through leadership, mentorship, professional excellence and industry influence. The recipient demonstrates a sustained commitment to advancing both the industry and the next generation of women leaders.
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
Leadership Excellence: Demonstrates exceptional leadership within the wind energy sector.
Industry Influence: Makes significant contributions that positively influence the industry.
Mentorship: Supports and develops future professionals within the sector.
Professional Achievement: Demonstrates sustained career excellence and credibility.
Impact: Has made a measurable contribution to the growth of South Africa's wind industry.
OEM Market Leader Award
Award Description: Recognises an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that has demonstrated excellence in technology, product reliability, customer support, local market contribution, innovation and overall leadership within South Africa’s wind energy sector.
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
Technology Leadership: Demonstrates excellence in wind turbine or equipment technology.
Innovation: Introduces products or services that improve project performance.
Reliability: Maintains high equipment performance and customer satisfaction.
Local Contribution: Supports localisation, skills development and industry growth.
Market Leadership: Demonstrates sustained leadership within the South African market.
Gender Diversity Transformation Enabler Award
Award Description: Recognises an organisation that has demonstrated measurable progress in advancing gender diversity, equity, inclusion, and the empowerment of women throughout the wind energy value chain through policies, programmes, leadership commitment, and tangible outcomes.
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
Leadership Commitment: Demonstrates organisational commitment to gender equality.
Workforce Diversity: Shows measurable progress in improving gender representation.
Inclusive Culture: Creates an inclusive and supportive workplace environment.
Career Development: Invests in mentorship, leadership development and career progression for women.
Measurable Outcomes: Demonstrates tangible evidence of transformation.
S*H*E Award
(Safety, Health and Environment)
Award Description: This award recognises excellence in Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) best practices within a wind energy project or organisation. It honours those who have built a strong safety culture and achieved outstanding occupational health and wellbeing outcomes, while also demonstrating exceptional environmental stewardship — protecting biodiversity, minimising ecological impacts, and embedding sustainable practices across the full project lifecycle.
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
Safety Performance: Demonstrates outstanding health and safety performance.
Safety Leadership: Embeds a proactive safety culture across the organisation.
Continuous Improvement: Implements initiatives that improve safety outcomes.
Employee Wellbeing: Prioritises the wellbeing of employees and contractors.
Industry Best Practice: Demonstrates leadership in safety management.
Local Supplier Award (Wind Value Chain)
Award Description: Recognises a South African supplier, manufacturer, or service provider that has demonstrated excellence in supporting the local wind energy value chain through quality products or services, localisation, innovation, reliability, job creation, and contribution to industry growth.
Award Criteria: The judges will assess nominations based on:
Local Content: Demonstrates meaningful contribution to South Africa's local value chain.
Quality: Delivers products or services to a consistently high standard.
Innovation: Applies innovative solutions that improve project delivery.
Reliability: Demonstrates dependable delivery and customer satisfaction.
