As more South Africans turn to renewable energy sources like rooftop solar installations, a significant shift is on the horizon for those planning or who have already made the switch.
Eskom has announced potential reforms to its registration process, which could drastically reduce the costs associated with getting solar installations approved.
Currently, homeowners are required to engage professional engineers to sign off on solar installations, costing around R20 000. However, forthcoming regulations from the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) may pave the way for electricians to provide necessary compliance certification, substituting the expensive engineering requirement with a more affordable Certificate of Compliance (CoC), as per a report from BusinessTech.
This change could see the registration cost plummet to about R1 500, a relief for many financially burdened by the rising expenses of solar energy adoption.
Under existing regulations, electricians’ CoCs do not cover the ‘full solar PV installation,’ necessitating professional engineering approval. The upcoming low-voltage regulations aim to bridge this gap, granting electricians the authority to sign off solar installations for registration purposes.
This initiative comes at a crucial time, as many South Africans are investing in solar energy systems in response to the persistent challenges of loadshedding and escalating electricity tariffs. Eskom is actively promoting the registration of grid-tied small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems, typically involving residential solar setups.
The utility reiterates that registration is more than mere bureaucracy; it is a legal obligation under the Electricity Regulation Act for all systems under 100 kVA.
Such regulations not only ensure safety but also prevent potential hazards, such as backfeeding into the grid, which can jeopardise lives and damage electrical equipment.
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In another strategic move, Eskom has rolled out its first Renewable Energy Offtake Programme, issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to allow large power consumers to secure 291MW of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) capacity through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) from Eskom-operated renewable energy projects.
This programme follows extensive consultations with commercial and industrial clients and aims to meet the strong demand for tailored renewable energy solutions.
By facilitating these contracts, Eskom is enabling businesses to align with global sustainability goals, reduce their carbon footprints, and enhance their competitiveness while contributing to South Africa’s decarbonisation efforts.
‘This is the next step in the focused execution of our strategy to integrate additional renewable energy into the grid, in line with global electricity industry trends for environmentally sustainable solutions, just over a year into our turnaround strategy, we are not only focused on ending load shedding but are also pivoting Eskom into a sustainable and competitive company,’ said Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane.
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