SOLAR PV

CELEBRATING SOUTH AFRICA’S SUNLIGHT

South Africa is blessed with abundant sunlight, well-suited to the development of solar energy. Satellite-derived solar data
and resource mapping are being compiled as empirical evidence of the quantity and quality of the available solar resource.
Measurement data and maps are publically available, free of charge at www.sauran.net.

HOW DOES SOLAR PV POWER WORK?

SUNLIGHT

GLASS

ANTI REFLECTIVE
COAT

SEMI-CONDUCTOR

-1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 - kWh/m²

Solar resource map example for South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland ELECTRICITY
(annual sum of global horizontal irradiation, kWh/m²), GeoModel Solar

A solar PV installation consists of solar PV panels. A solar panel works by allowing photons,
or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity

HOW MUCH SOLAR PV? THE NEW GOLD RUSH

• Most of South Africa is classified as semi-arid with large expanses of flat terrain
9%
and high solar irradiation, making it ideal for solar power. As a result South Africa

17% is considered to offer the 2nd best solar resource in the world
• High quality, satellite-derived solar data and resource mapping are being
developed for South Africa and the region to be publically available, free of charge,
in support of industry development (http://www.sauran.net)
74% • Electricity from solar PV is expected to contribute 9% to South Africa’s power
capacity by 2030
Solar PV 9% • This requires 8,400MW solar PV power to be built between 2010 and 2030
Other RE (including Hydro) 17% • To date the Minister of Energy has determined 4,725MW of solar PV power to be
Other 74% procured from Independent Power Producers, targeting full operation by 2025
 TECHNOLOGY
STATS
FOR SOLAR PV IPP PROJECTS
PARTICIPATING IN SOUTH
AFRICA’S REIPPPP

AVERAGE SIZE

50.93 MW
5.35
Mton EMISSION

1 587 829 SAVINGS

ANNUALLY
NUMBER OF
HOUSEHOLDS
POWERED

5 270
ANNUALLY

GWh ENERGY THAT

WILL BE GENERATED
ANNUALLY

NUMBER OF

45
R62.41 BILLION
PROJECTS

TOTAL INVESTMENT IN SOLAR PV

PROJECTS COMMITTED TO DATE
(30 JUNE 2015)

TECHNOLOGY PRICE
TREND (R/kWh)

2 291.83 MW
MW PROCURED
R 3.44
R 2.05
R 1.10
R 0.86

Reflects average price in Apr 2015 terms

BW1 BW2 BW3 BW4

BW - Bid Window REIPPPP - Renewable Enegry Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme

To find out more go to: www.ipp-projects.co.za