The Rooftop Solar Revolution: A Threat to Eskom’s Stranglehold on the Grid?

As South Africa basks in the longest stretch of uninterrupted power supply in years, a quiet rebellion is brewing in the shadows. Homeowners and businesses are turning to rooftop solar installations in droves, defying the status quo and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

350.5MW of rooftop solar capacity was added in the second quarter of 2024, a staggering 45% increase from the previous quarter. And experts warn that if this trend continues, South Africa will add half the capacity it did last year by the end of 2024.

But what’s driving this shift? Is it simply a response to Eskom’s increasingly expensive grid rates, or is there more at play?

"We’re seeing a paradigm shift," says Andrew Middleton, CEO of GoSolr. "People are no longer just looking for cheap electricity; they’re demanding clean energy and the freedom to generate their own power away from an increasingly expensive grid."

But Eskom is fighting back. As the utility’s costs continue to balloon due to its ageing coal fleet and waning customer base, it’s squeezing its customers with higher and higher tariffs. And municipalities are following suit, introducing fixed-use tariffs that punish those who use less energy and reward those who use more.

"It’s like they’re trying to strangle the grid," says Middleton. "South Africa needs investment in its transmission infrastructure, not just high-capacity long-haul infrastructure, but in the last mile, to the home."

As the battle for energy dominance heats up, one thing is clear: the days of Eskom’s stranglehold on the grid are numbered. The rooftop solar revolution is underway, and it’s not going to be stopped.