NERSA Registers 2,045 MW Solar, 3 MW BESS And 1,063 MW Wind Projects With R78.16 Billion Investment In South Africa

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has registered 144 new electricity generation facilities during the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, covering the period from July to September 2026. The newly registered projects represent a combined generation capacity of 3,129 MW and an estimated investment of R78.16 billion, highlighting continued growth in South Africa’s energy sector and rising private-sector participation in electricity generation.

NERSA processed all 144 registration applications within an average of nine working days during the quarter. This reflects an improvement in regulatory processing efficiency compared with the previous quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, when 181 applications were processed in an average of 10 working days. The faster approval process demonstrates the regulator’s efforts to simplify administrative procedures and support the timely development of new generation capacity.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology accounted for the largest share of newly registered facilities. A total of 139 solar PV projects were registered, representing 2,045 MW of generation capacity. Wind energy contributed three projects with a combined capacity of 1,063 MW. The remaining registrations included one battery energy storage system (BESS) project with 3 MW of capacity and one co-generation facility adding 18 MW. These figures highlight the continued dominance of solar power in South Africa’s new generation pipeline, alongside growing contributions from other energy technologies.

The registrations covered all nine provinces, with Gauteng recording the highest number of projects at 47 facilities, representing 25 MW of capacity. The Western Cape followed with 36 registrations, while KwaZulu-Natal recorded 16 facilities. However, the Western Cape led in terms of installed capacity and investment, attracting R24.60 billion for projects totalling 1,189 MW. The Free State secured 543 MW with an investment of R15.03 billion, while Limpopo accounted for 484 MW and R16.27 billion in investment.

Regarding grid connections, 68 facilities with a combined capacity of 50 MW will connect to municipal distribution networks, attracting approximately R584 million in investment. The remaining 76 large-scale facilities, representing 3,079 MW, will connect directly to the Eskom grid, with an estimated investment of R77.58 billion. The average investment cost across the registered facilities stood at approximately R24,980 per kilowatt.

Since introducing its generation facility registration system in 2018, NERSA has registered 2,763 electricity generation facilities with a combined capacity of 23,260 MW. These developments represent cumulative investments exceeding R487 billion.

The latest registrations reflect South Africa’s continued efforts to expand electricity generation capacity, diversify its energy mix and strengthen national energy security. Faster regulatory approvals and increased investment in renewable energy and storage projects are also expected to support grid reliability and the country’s transition towards a more competitive electricity market.