South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2024 - 2029 |
| Historical Data Period | 2019 - 2022 |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 11.17 % |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market Analysis
The South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market size is estimated at 6.05 gigawatt in 2024, and is expected to reach 10.27 gigawatt by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 11.17% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
- Over the medium term, declining solar PV modules and associated system costs, coupled with supportive government policies, are also expected to drive the growth of the market.
- On the other hand, increasing competition from alternative renewable energy sources such as onshore wind power, small-hydropower, and bioenergy may negatively impact the market's growth and is one of the major restraints for the market.
- However, increasing power outages in the country, leading to the electricity crisis and growing demand for continuous power, are expected to provide growth opportunities during the forecast period.
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market Trends
The Residential Segment Expected to Witness Significant Growth
- Electricity use in most residential sectors is likely to grow in South Africa because of increasing incomes and as urban migration continues in the southern regions of Africa. Moreover, the housing sector is expected to witness considerable investment due to a population rise, rapid urbanization, and increased disposable incomes.
- According to the US Energy Information Administration (US EIA), by 2040, it is estimated that the residential sector in South Africa is likely to consume approximately 8.4 mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) or 98,000 kWh of electricity.
- South Africa has great potential for renewable energy resources, especially solar and wind. The country's government is making significant efforts to increase the capacity of such sources to reduce dependency on other conventional energy sources.
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) panels mounted on the roof of a residential building. They convert solar energy into usable electricity. A PV system consists of solar cells connected to point them toward the sun, which an inverter then converts from direct current (DC) into usable alternating current (AC).
- According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), as of 2023, the solar PV installed capacity in South Africa accounted for 5,664 megawatts. This represented a decrease of roughly 2.7% from the 2022. During the period under review, solar PV capacity grew dramatically from 1,064 to 5,664 megawatts in 2014 and 2023, respectively. The unstable power grid in the country is one of the reasons why residents are seeking an alternative source of electricity.
- In February 2024, in the latest development, Hohm Energy, a company that connects homeowners and businesses with accredited solar PV installers, product suppliers, and embedded solar finance in South Africa, announced raising USD 8 million in seed investment to develop residential solar rooftops in South Africa.
- In May 2024, Sungrow, the global leader in PV inverters and energy storage systems, solidified its presence in South Africa’s renewable energy sector by signing two significant agreements with ARB and Herholdt, both prestigious distributors in South Africa, as per which Sungrow is committed to providing a comprehensive range of products and services to these esteemed partners. This diverse offering comprises inverter and storage solutions for residential, commercial & industrial applications.
- Therefore, owing to the above points, the residential segment is expected to witness significant growth in the South African solar PV market during the forecast period.
Government Policies and Increasing Investments Driving the Market Demand
- Solar energy is one of the most readily accessible resources in South Africa, with an average of more than 2,500 hours of sunshine per year. The country's average solar irradiation level ranges between 4.5 and 6.5 kWh/m2 daily. The South African government has identified the significant potential of solar energy and is making efforts to increase the adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in the country's power sector.
- Due to the decreasing solar PV costs and supportive government programs from South Africa, such as the National Solar Water Heater Programme, the residential solar PV sector will increase in the country. Moreover, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy plans to strengthen its National Electrification Programme to provide electricity access to a maximum portion of the country, which is expected to positively impact the growth of the South African residential solar PV market.
- In August 2023, Eskom published new rooftop PV installation statistics. It says that residential and C&I installations reached 4,411.5 MW of cumulative capacity by the end of June 2023, with around 1.82 GW deployed in January-June 2023 alone.
- The solar power sector was nearly nonexistent once the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Program (REIPPP) was introduced in 2011. However, after the program's start, the installed capacity for utility-scale solar PV reached more than 2.37 GW as of May 2022.
- Under the REIPPP, the country aims to install an 8,400 MW generation capacity of solar PV by 2030, enough to provide energy to 1.5 million households. In addition, the government plans to install 18 GW of solar PV by 2050. Such a scenario is expected to result in significant developments in the solar PV industry in South Africa.
- In April 2022, the government announced that it launched the sixth round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), which enables private sector investment in renewable energy development. Under this program, the authorities target procuring 2.6 GW of renewable energy, including 1.6 GW of solar PV.
- In addition, the procurement exercise is part of South Africa's plan to tender almost 12 GW of solar capacity, following the country's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which aims to develop up to 6 GW of new large-scale solar and 6 GW of distributed PV capacity by 2030. These initiatives will likely increase the demand for the solar PV market in the country.
- The Government of South Africa is actively encouraging the uptake of new rooftop solar photovoltaics with targeted solar policies, including a new rebate scheme announced in February 2023. The scheme allows customers to install new solar PV panels onto their homes and claim rebates equal to 1/4th of the cost of the panels. The rebate scheme started on March 1, 2023, and was set to end on February 29, 2024.
- Therefore, owing to the above points, government policies and increasing investments are expected to drive the country's solar PV market during the forecast period.
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Industry Overview
The South African solar photovoltaic (PV) market is semi-consolidated. Some major players operating in the market (in no particular order) include Canadian Solar Inc., Enel SpA, JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd, Renenergy South Africa Pty Ltd, and JA Solar Holdings.
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market Leaders
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JA Solar Holdings
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Renenergy South Africa Pty Ltd.
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Canadian Solar Inc.
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Enel S.p.A.
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JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market News
- April 2024: Africa Data Centres, a South African data-center services provider, announced starting work on a 12-megawatt solar PV project in the Free State province of South Africa in collaboration with DPA Southern Africa, a joint company of French utility EDF.
- April 2024: Scatec announced the launch of the Kenhardt Solar PV and BESS project, totaling 540 MW, located in South Africa's Northern Cape Province. The project was awarded to Scatec by South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources and Energy under the technology-agnostic MIP program.
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Scope of the Study
- 1.2 Market Definition
- 1.3 Study Assumptions
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4. MARKET OVERVIEW
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Installed Capacity and Forecast in MW, till 2029
- 4.3 Recent Trends and Developments
- 4.4 Government Policies and Regulations
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4.5 Market Dynamics
- 4.5.1 Drivers
- 4.5.1.1 Declining solar PV modules
- 4.5.1.2 Supportive Government Policies
- 4.5.2 Restraints
- 4.5.2.1 Increasing Competition from Alternative Renewable Energy Sources
- 4.6 Supply Chain Analysis
- 4.7 PESTLE Analysis
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION
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5.1 Type
- 5.1.1 Crystalline Silicon
- 5.1.2 Thin Film
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5.2 End User
- 5.2.1 Residential
- 5.2.2 Commercial and Industrial (C&I)
- 5.2.3 Utility
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5.3 Deployment
- 5.3.1 Ground-mounted
- 5.3.2 Rooftop
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- 6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
- 6.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
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6.3 Company Profiles
- 6.3.1 Canadian Solar Inc.
- 6.3.2 JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd
- 6.3.3 Trina Solar Co. Ltd
- 6.3.4 ARTsolar (Pty) Ltd
- 6.3.5 SunPower Corporation
- 6.3.6 IBC Solar AG
- 6.3.7 Seraphim Solar System Co. Ltd
- 6.3.8 Engie SA
- 6.3.9 Enel SpA
- 6.3.10 Renenergy South Africa Pty Ltd
- 6.3.11 JA Solar Holdings
- 6.3.12 Energy Partners Solar (Pty) Ltd
- *List Not Exhaustive
- 6.4 Market Ranking/Share Analysis
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
- 7.1 Increasing Energy Crisis due higher Power Outages
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Industry Segmentation
Solar photovoltaics are materials and devices that convert sunlight into electrical energy. The South African solar photovoltaic market is segmented by type, end user, and deployment. By type, the market is segmented into crystalline silicon and thin film. By end user, the market is segmented into residential, commercial & industrial (C&I), and utility. By deployment, the market is segmented into ground-mounted and rooftop. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done based on installed capacity (MW).
| Type | Crystalline Silicon |
| Thin Film | |
| End User | Residential |
| Commercial and Industrial (C&I) | |
| Utility | |
| Deployment | Ground-mounted |
| Rooftop |
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market Research FAQs
How big is the South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market?
The South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market size is expected to reach 6.05 gigawatt in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 11.17% to reach 10.27 gigawatt by 2029.
What is the current South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market size?
In 2024, the South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market size is expected to reach 6.05 gigawatt.
Who are the key players in South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market?
JA Solar Holdings, Renenergy South Africa Pty Ltd., Canadian Solar Inc., Enel S.p.A. and JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. are the major companies operating in the South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market.
What years does this South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market size was estimated at 5.37 gigawatt. The report covers the South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the South Africa Solar Photovoltaic Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
South Africa Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Industry Report
The South African Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market is experiencing significant growth, driven by various factors across different segments. The market size is expanding as more residential, commercial, and industrial sectors adopt solar PV technologies. This market growth is further supported by detailed market research and analysis, providing valuable insights into the market share and industry outlook.
The industry analysis highlights the increasing demand for both crystalline silicon and thin film types, with a particular focus on the market trends shaping the future of solar PV deployment. The industry outlook remains positive, with a steady growth rate anticipated over the forecast period. Comprehensive industry reports and market forecast data offer a clear picture of the expected market developments.
Market segmentation reveals the distribution of solar PV installations across ground-mounted and rooftop deployments, catering to the diverse needs of end-users. The industry trends indicate a rising preference for sustainable energy solutions, which is reflected in the market value and market predictions.
Key market leaders are driving innovation and efficiency in the sector, contributing to the overall market overview. The market data and industry statistics provide a robust foundation for understanding the current state and future potential of the South African Solar PV market. Detailed market review and industry research further enhance the understanding of market dynamics.
For those interested in more detailed insights, a sample report PDF is available for download, offering a comprehensive industry overview and report example. Research companies continue to monitor and analyze the market, ensuring that industry information remains up-to-date and relevant. The combination of market growth, market outlook, and industry sales data underscores the vibrant and evolving nature of the South African Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market.
