Finance · South Africa
How Solar Energy and EVs Can Strengthen SA’s Power Grid
Moneyweb · 2026/02/15
Summary
South Africa faces challenges with its electricity grid, but solar energy from homes and electric vehicles (EVs) could offer solutions. Many households have solar panels that produce more energy than they use. Instead of wasting this extra power, new technologies like bidirectional meters and vehicle-to-grid systems allow excess solar energy to be sent back to the national grid. This helps balance supply and demand, reducing pressure on power plants and cutting emissions. Using EVs as mobile energy storage during peak times can further support the grid. These innovations could improve energy reliability and sustainability without much extra cost to consumers. As more South Africans adopt solar and electric vehicles, these solutions may become essential in fixing the country’s energy problems.
OnABudget takeaway: For consumers and small businesses, investing in solar panels and EVs not only saves money on electricity but can also help earn credits by supporting the grid. This makes clean energy more affordable and benefits all South Africans by making power supply more stable.