Countries across Southern Africa are accelerating solar energy investments as they seek to close a persistent regional electricity deficit estimated at more than 4,000 megawatts, officials and energy firms say.
In South Africa, energy groups Engie and Pele Green Energy have brought the 75-megawatt Graspan solar plant online in the Northern Cape, adding new capacity to a grid still struggling with supply constraints.
The project forms part of the country’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), a flagship initiative that allows private companies to build and operate electricity generation facilities connected to the national grid.
A second project, the Grootspruit solar plant in the Free State, has also recently been completed, bringing total new capacity from the developer to around 150 megawatts.
Officials say the new installations are already feeding electricity into the grid, offering incremental relief to a power system that has been strained by ageing coal infrastructure and rising demand.
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Private sector role expands
South Africa’s renewable energy programme has been one of the most advanced on the continent. Since its launch in 2011, REIPPPP has enabled more than 7,300 megawatts of generation capacity through private investment, according to industry data.
Energy analysts say the model has helped attract international capital while reducing pressure on state utility Eskom, which has faced repeated generation shortfalls in recent years.
Sanjeev Mungroo, managing director for renewables and batteries at Engie South Africa, said the latest solar projects represent an important step toward stabilising supply.
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“These projects are contributing directly to grid stability at a critical time,” he said in a statement.
Regional expansion gains pace
Beyond South Africa, solar expansion is gaining momentum across the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), a regional coordination system that links electricity markets in 12 countries.
The region is currently facing an estimated 4,200-megawatt generation shortfall, according to industry assessments, driven by rising demand, hydropower volatility and limited investment in new baseload capacity.
In Zambia, authorities have prioritised solar development to reduce reliance on hydropower, which has become increasingly vulnerable to drought conditions.
The country had set a target of 1,000 megawatts of solar capacity by 2025 and has recently advanced several large-scale projects, including a 250-megawatt solar facility developed with independent power producers and a planned 100-megawatt hybrid solar-wind project.
Officials say these initiatives are part of a broader strategy to diversify the energy mix and improve long-term energy security.
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Structural power gap persists
Despite the rapid rollout of renewable energy projects, analysts warn that the region’s electricity gap remains significant.
Demand continues to outpace supply in many countries, driven by population growth, industrial expansion and urbanisation. At the same time, ageing infrastructure and limited cross-border transmission capacity constrain the ability to balance supply across the grid.
The Southern African Power Pool has long sought to improve regional electricity trading, allowing surplus power in one country to offset shortages in another. However, progress has been uneven due to infrastructure bottlenecks and financing constraints.
Solar seen as key transition tool
Energy experts say solar power is emerging as the most scalable and cost-effective solution for addressing short-term supply gaps while longer-term infrastructure projects are developed.
Unlike large hydropower or coal plants, solar projects can be deployed relatively quickly and at smaller scales, making them attractive for both public and private investors.
However, they also note that solar energy requires complementary investments in storage and transmission infrastructure to ensure reliability, particularly given its intermittent nature.
Outlook
With additional projects expected to come online over the next few years, officials hope renewable energy expansion will gradually narrow the region’s electricity deficit.
Still, analysts caution that sustained investment, regulatory stability and cross-border coordination will be essential if Southern Africa is to fully resolve its long-standing power shortages.
For now, the region’s growing solar pipeline signals a clear shift: away from dependence on ageing traditional generation and toward a more diversified and renewable energy future.
