Solar offers some hope for South Africa’s power crisis

Significance

Although many businesses have adopted rooftop solar to ensure business continuity, it is primarily households that are driving the change.

Impacts

• Load-shedding’s worst impacts may shift to poorer, rural areas as urban areas adopt solar, exacerbating inequalities in access to power.
• Eskom may face reduced revenues as wealthier customers and businesses rely increasingly on private power sources.
• The expansion of renewable energy sources will help South Africa cut carbon emissions and meet climate goals.