Eskom Struggles To Stay Relevant As Solar Surge Takes Over

South Africans are taking back the power - literally - as households and businesses across the country ramp up investments in alternative energy sources to escape Eskom's clutches.

Despite a noticeable dip in load-shedding since March 2024, the demand for solar panels and private energy projects has skyrocketed once again. And with Eskom's electricity tariffs climbing by nearly 13 as of 1 April 2025, it's no surprise that more people are flipping the switch to solar.

Last year, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa Nersa registered an all-time high of 469 private energy projects. Together, these projects boast a jaw-dropping capacity of over 4 000 megawatts, as reported by the Daily Investor . Combine that with previous years' figures, and South Africa now has over 11 000MW of privately generated electricity in the pipeline - dwarfing the output of the government's own Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme REIPPPP.

Not only are big players contributing to the solar surge, but everyday citizens are joining the charge. Rooftop solar installations, once seen as a luxury for a few, are now becoming the go-to solution for thousands of homes - especially as electricity prices soar.

Marc du Plessis, executive head of Standard Bank's LookSee platform, said they've seen a massive uptick in interest since mid-2024. 'Every time Eskom mentions another tariff hike, we see a surge in users browsing solar financing options,' he said.