This year, South Africa is set to become the tenth-largest solar market in the world. In 2023 R17.5 Billion rands of solar panels were imported into this country. In the latest episode of The Current podcast series, we’re talking all things solar PV – from market dynamics to how much it costs and whether it makes commercial sense for you to install it for your business or your home. Listen to Investec’s Melanie Humphries, Bernard Geldenhuys, and SAPVIA’s De Wet Taljaard, as they enlighten us on SA’s solar boom. 00:00: Intro 01:56: Meet the guests 02:24: Overview of solar in SA and its domination 03:36: 86% of all solar is residential or rooftop 04:24: Large-scale solar PV projects 05:03: SA in comparison to other country's solar adoption 06:20: The impact of residential solar's boom on the national grid 07:16: The cost implications of installing solar 09:46: Homeowners installing solar for commercial value 11:55: Equitable access to solar power 13:55: Local manufacturing of solar lagging behind 14:49: REIPP Programme attracting substantial FDI 15:19: Feeding excess energy back into the grid 17:32: Transmission is the biggest hurdle for large-scale solar 18:50: What is wheeling and why is it important for IPPs? 21:19: Top considerations when installing rooftop solar 22:28: Maintenance of solar equipment 23:10: Loadshedding and solar's relationship is changing 24:17: SMMEs benefit from solar 25:24: What are the risks to SA's solar boom? 28:28 Closing comments and some practical advice