Over the past few years, a small group of companies has quietly become major players in South Africa’s rooftop solar space, installing hundreds of megawatts of capacity that are making a real dent in load-shedding.
The expansion of utility-scale renewable energy has slowed, largely because of limited transmission grid capacity in the Cape provinces, which otherwise offer some of the best conditions for renewable generation and returns on investment. While large power plants will still be needed to meet growing electricity demand, energy experts increasingly agree that South Africa’s future grid will be far more decentralised than it is today.
That shift is already visible. Thousands of smaller power stations have been installed on the rooftops of homes and businesses across the country, supplying electricity without relying on the national transmission grid.
By the end of 2025, the National Transmission Company of South Africa estimated that there were about 7,500MWp of “behind-the-meter” solar installations at homes and businesses. This figure does not include larger commercial systems with capacities above 100kWp, which must be registered with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).
Since 2018, Nersa has registered more than 18,000MW of private power capacity, much of it made up of commercial rooftop solar installations. Several companies have focused almost exclusively on this segment, rather than building large, ground-based solar plants.
Terra Firma currently has the largest published combined rooftop solar capacity in the country, having installed more than 350MW across around 500 projects. The company is owned by fund management firm AP-Moller Capital and industrial group Reunert, and its client list includes Shoprite, Nestlé, Spar, Discovery, Investec, Growthpoint and Redefine Properties.
Some of Terra Firma’s biggest projects include a 5.3MWp system at Cornubia Mall in Durban, as well as two 5.1MWp installations at Mall of the South and Matlosana Mall. In addition to solar generation, the company has deployed about 26MWh of battery energy storage systems and manages more than 12,000 electricity meters.
Malls and vehicle factories leading the way
Another major player is Stanlib Asset Management’s Solareff, which has delivered over 280MWp of rooftop solar capacity along with 47MWh of battery storage. Its portfolio includes two of the five largest rooftop solar installations in South Africa, the biggest being a 7.26MWp system at Eastgate Shopping Centre in Germiston. Solareff has also built the 6.79MWp Boardwalk Inkwazi system in Richards Bay and a 6.53MWp installation at Midlands Mall.
SolarAfrica Energy is also prominent, with roughly 133MW of solar capacity and 39MWh of battery storage operational, although some of its projects are located elsewhere on the continent. Among its flagship installations is a 13.5MWp rooftop system at Ford’s vehicle assembly plant in Silverton, Pretoria. Made up of more than 30,000 solar panels, the system can supply around 35% of the factory’s electricity needs. Despite its scale, it is only the second-largest rooftop solar installation in the country.
The largest rooftop solar system in South Africa is found at the Mercedes-Benz KuGompo factory in East London. Developed by BrightBlack Energy, the installation has a capacity of 14.57MWp. BrightBlack’s overall portfolio, however, stands at about 30MWp, which is smaller than those of the other major players.
As of February 2026, these projects represent the five largest rooftop solar power systems operating in South Africa.
