Solar power generation system in South Africa

Is solar PV a key component of South Africa's future electricity supply?

Frank Spencer, the spokesperson for Sapvia, said the association sees the solar PV industry in South Africa as the most important component of future electricity supply. “Solar PV is already being deployed at all scales in South Africa, from small home rooftop systems to large solar farms spanning many hundreds of hectares.

Does South Africa have a solar future?

With nearly 961MW of new private-sector solar PV capacity added this year, South Africa’s solar journey is lighting the way toward a more sustainable energy future. Solar Growth Milestones in 2024 South Africa’s total solar PV capacity reached 8.97GW in 2024, an 11.9% increase compared to the previous year.

How much solar power will South Africa have by 2039?

Image: South African government via Flickr. South Africa plans to add 28.7GW of new solar PV generation capacity by 2039, en route to generating more than half of its domestic electricity with renewable sources by 2042.

How much solar power was installed in South Africa last year?

According to Eskom data and the South African Photovoltaïc Industry Association (Sapvia), 1,100 megawatts (MW) or 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar generation was installed last year. That is less than half the 2,600MW that was added in 2023, the worst year of load-shedding yet.