South Africa's NERSA (National Energy Regulator) approved 124 new renewable energy installations in the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year (April-June 2026), representing a total capacity of 804 MW and a combined investment of ZAR 20.18 billion — approximately $1.2 billion. An unprecedented approval rate that illustrates the acceleration of South Africa's green transition.
Solar dominant, wind providing the bulk of capacity
Of the 124 approved projects, 122 are solar photovoltaic installations totalling 236 MW, and just 2 are wind farms — which however account for the bulk of capacity at 568 MW. The geographic split is balanced: 63 installations connect to municipal distribution networks and 61 to Eskom's national grid.
NERSA now processes permit applications in an average of ten business days — a record turnaround that has unlocked the renewable investment pipeline and is attracting international developers.
An impressive cumulative track record since 2018
Since the registration system was introduced in 2018, NERSA has approved a total of 2,619 installations representing 20,131 MW of cumulative capacity, with aggregate investment of ZAR 409 billion. These figures reflect a deep and lasting transformation of South Africa's energy mix, historically dominated by coal.
Why it matters
South Africa remains one of the world's most carbon-intensive economies. The acceleration of renewable capacity approvals — 804 MW in a single quarter — marks a concrete operational turning point, beyond stated ambitions alone. For investors across the Indian Ocean region, it signals the direction the continental energy market is heading: renewables are no longer an option, they are the emerging norm. South Africa's execution speed is becoming a deployment model that other countries on the continent are beginning to study.