By Abdullahi Lukman
South Africa’s National Energy Regulator (NERSA) has approved 124 new renewable energy generation facilities with a combined capacity of 804 megawatts (MW), unlocking about R20.18 billion (US$1.2 billion) in investment in the country’s electricity infrastructure.
The projects, approved during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year covering April to June 2026, comprise wind and solar power facilities expected to strengthen electricity supply and expand private-sector participation in generation.
Of the approved projects, 61 will connect to the state-owned Eskom transmission grid, while 63 will feed into municipal distribution networks, enabling local authorities to integrate privately generated electricity into their systems.
Two utility-scale wind projects account for 568MW, representing more than 70 per cent of the total approved capacity. The projects are expected to reach commercial operation within 18 to 24 months.
The remaining 236MW will come from 122 solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities, mainly targeting commercial-scale power generation.
The approvals come amid continued efforts to expand South Africa’s renewable energy capacity and improve the resilience of its electricity system by diversifying generation sources and increasing local power supply.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is currently tracking 637 wind and solar power projects in South Africa, with a combined estimated investment value of US$130 billion.
IIR, an industrial market intelligence provider, has tracked industrial, manufacturing and energy projects globally since 1983. Its Global Market Intelligence platform monitors more than 250,000 current and future projects worldwide, with a combined value of about US$30.2 trillion.
