This year, South Africa is set to become the tenth-largest solar market in the world. In 2023 R17.5 Billion rands of solar panels were imported into this country. In the latest episode of The Current podcast series, we’re talking all things solar PV – from market dynamics to how much it costs and whether it makes commercial sense for you to install it for your business or your home. Listen to Investec’s Melanie Humphries, Bernard Geldenhuys, and SAPVIA’s De Wet Taljaard, as they enlighten us on SA’s solar boom.

00:00: Intro

01:56: Meet the guests

02:24: Overview of solar in SA and its domination

03:36: 86% of all solar is residential or rooftop

04:24: Large-scale solar PV projects

05:03: SA in comparison to other country's solar adoption

06:20: The impact of residential solar's boom on the national grid

07:16: The cost implications of installing solar

09:46: Homeowners installing solar for commercial value

11:55: Equitable access to solar power

13:55: Local manufacturing of solar lagging behind

14:49: REIPP Programme attracting substantial FDI

15:19: Feeding excess energy back into the grid

17:32: Transmission is the biggest hurdle for large-scale solar

18:50: What is wheeling and why is it important for IPPs?

21:19: Top considerations when installing rooftop solar

22:28: Maintenance of solar equipment

23:10: Loadshedding and solar's relationship is changing

24:17: SMMEs benefit from solar

25:24: What are the risks to SA's solar boom?

28:28 Closing comments and some practical advice Investec's Sustainable Solutions in solar · Investec Focus Radio SA