Consumers go solar to avert electricity blackouts
Businesses specialising in installation of alternative energy sources see rise in demand
Limpopo-based Thabo Manamela, 42, is highly relieved that he opted for a renewable source of energy for his household. Manamela, who recently moved from the city of Polokwane to a new development called Kwena Moloto 3, said he couldn’t rely on promises by the municipality to connect the area to the national grid and instead opted for an alternative in solar power energy.
“My area does not have electricity, as a result I have chosen to go with a big solar system. Initially I used a generator. However it was very costly, so I opted for solar energy,” he said.
Manamela installed 14 solar panels, an inverter and two lithium batteries to power his household.
“This year was my first winter on renewable energy and I am comfortable with my choice because it took us through winter. I was even able to pull water from the borehole using solar power. I don’t need electricity from Eskom any longer,” Manamela said.
According to market research company Mordor Intelligence, the South African solar photovoltaic (PV) market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate of over 11.17% during the forecast period of 2022-2027. This is forecast to reach the solar PV installed capacity of 8369MW in 2027 from 3 672MW in 2020.
This week the country experienced one of its worst rolling electricity blackouts after power utility Eskom announced stage 6 load shedding. The situation, which has had an adverse impact on the economy, has once again reignited the debate on moving towards renewable energy.
Eddie Phambane, whose company PV Powers specialises in solar power installation in Polokwane, said there is a high demand for solar energy.
Phambane, who started his company in 2020, said that there has been a higher demand throughout this year, which has led to him operating in both Polokwane and Rustenburg.
“I quote more than 10 customers on a daily basis and our weekends are fully booked for installations which range according to customers’ consumption; they need power inverters, isolators, lithium batteries, solar panels and so much more,” he said.
“I need to stay two steps ahead because the batteries, inverters and other equipment are being developed all the time,” Phambane said.
He said that most clients look for backup systems which would ideally last them a few hours, but he believes that over time more people will take on his solar packages for permanent power solutions.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who cut short an international visit to deal with the most recent power outages, weighed in on the crisis.
“The severe load-shedding of the last few days has reminded us how unstable our ageing power stations are. It has given greater urgency to the measures we announced two months ago to stabilise our electricity supply. Solving the electricity crisis is necessary if we are to realise the potential of our economy,” he said.
One of the measures announced to solve the country’s power problems is the addition of solar power to supply the national grid.
As a result, the Coleskop Wind Power, San Kraal Wind Power and Phezukomoya Wind Power, which all offer onshore wind energy technologies, are expected to deliver power into the grid within two years.
Ramaphosa, who leads the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) established in July this year, said that “transforming the electricity sector to achieve long-term energy security so the country never experiences electricity shortage” was a key priority among the committee’s objectives.