Powering the Next Generation with Solar in South Africa

Under the South African government's initiative of "Electricity for all by 2020" an off-grid solar installation scheme was initiated to provide basic electricity services to places where the centralised grid did not reach or was not efficient enough. This scheme was a pilot project by the government initiated in 2014 with the aim of reaching out to 20,000 people. Specialized Solar Systems were given the primary contract of installing the systems in identified communities. The model works in the concept where the end users pay 50% for the actual monthly usage charges and the local municipality, via the national government, pay the remaining 50% as a cost incurred by them for the service delivery. Specialized Solar System owns and maintains the systems through various sub installers throughout the country. So far there are about 17,000 systems like these in South Africa. These communities did not have any access to electricity before solar and solely relied on paraffin and kerosene. Solar energy is able to provide energy access efficiently and quickly. Such decentralised models are supported by Greenpeace. Not only South Africa but the entire continent must invest into such models for a 100% Renewable energy pathway.