NERSA Registers 144 Generation Facilities in Quarter

Registrations add 3,129 MW of capacity, with solar PV making up the bulk of new projects across all nine provinces.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Energy

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a row of dark solar panels across an open plain with a distant transmission pylon, in navy, cream, and ochre. — South Africa's energy regulator registered 144 new generation facilities adding 3,129 MW of capacity, with R78.16 billion in estimated investment this quarter. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The National Energy Regulator of South Africa registered 144 generation facilities during the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, representing 3,129 MW of capacity and an estimated investment of R78.16 billion. NERSA processed the applications in an average of nine working days, down from 10 in the previous quarter.

Why it matters

The registrations expand generation capacity across South Africa at a time when the country continues to rely on new independent supply to add power. Most of the new capacity will feed into the Eskom network, with the remainder connecting to municipal distribution networks.

Solar PV accounts for 139 of the 144 facilities and 2,045 MW of capacity, while three wind facilities contribute 1,063 MW. Of the total, 3,079 MW will connect to the Eskom network and 50 MW to municipal networks.

The players

National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA)

NERSA is the statutory body responsible for regulating electricity, gas and petroleum pipelines in South Africa, including the registration of generation facilities.

Eskom

Eskom is South Africa's state-owned electricity utility and the main national grid operator, to which the majority of the newly registered facilities will connect.

The details

Solar PV made up about 97% of the registered facilities. Gauteng recorded the most registrations by number with 47 facilities, while the Western Cape recorded 36 registrations and about R24.60 billion in investment. Limpopo received R16.27 billion across 13 facilities, and the Free State recorded R15.03 billion across eight facilities.

2018: The registration regime launched, with 52 facilities registered that year.
2025: 597 facilities were registered, bringing total capacity to 7,464 MW.
First three quarters of 2026: 380 facilities were registered, with 5,260 MW of capacity.
July to September 2026: 144 facilities were registered in the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year.

Roadmap

The registration regime launched in 2018 with 52 facilities and reached 597 facilities by 2025, reflecting a steady climb in independent generation under the framework. The 144 facilities registered in the second quarter of 2026/27 keep that trajectory moving, with solar PV dominating new applications.

Households and businesses in areas receiving new projects may see grid connections and local investment expand over the coming years. Consumers should watch for how the added capacity affects supply reliability and the broader electricity mix.

The takeaway

Solar dominance in new registrations signals where South Africa's generation growth is heading, and readers tracking energy costs and reliability should follow how these projects connect to the grid.