In the first half of 2023, South Africa imported about R12 billion’s worth of solar cells and solar PV panels, as load shedding hit record levels in recent months.
- In the first half of 2023, South Africa imported about R12 billion worth of solar cells and solar panels.
- This is more than double the value of imports for the whole of 2022.
- There are still only three solar panel manufacturers in the country.
- For climate change news and analysis, go to News24 Climate Future.
In the first half of 2023, South Africa imported about R12 billion’s worth of solar cells and solar PV panels, as load shedding hit record levels in recent months.
Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, senior economist at independent think tank Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies and facilitator of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan, last week shared a graph on X (formerly Twitter) highlighting the influx in solar PV imports.
