According to IRENA's report in March 2017, Asia experienced the greatest solar uptake in 2016, with a total solar capacity of 139 GW. Notably, China contributed a significant chunk of new installations, adding 34 GW to their solar capacity. The USA saw an increase of 11 GW, Japan increased by 8 GW, and India increased by 4 GW from the previous year. In Europe, the total solar capacity reached 104 GW, with the United Kingdom and Germany experiencing the largest uptake.
Rooftop Solar PV systems are expected to cost between ZAR0.80 to ZAR1.20/kWh. The cost is influenced by the installation cost, site solar irradiation, and the cost and terms of financing. On average, Rooftop Solar PV systems cost around ZAR10,000 to ZAR15,000/kWp, which can provide approximately 5 kWh of energy per day. A 2 kWp system is generally sufficient to power a small household.
A significant portion of the cost for PV systems comes from the cost of the modules. As a result, a decrease in the price of PV modules would decrease the total cost of the system.
Solar PV has an important role to play in transitioning towards a lower carbon-intensive economy. More utility scale, off-grid and rooftop installations are expected to be the future of solar PV, as well as municipalities building on their SSEG processes and tariffs. There will also be an emphasis on storage and backup systems, and initiatives relating to quality assurance and skills development to improve the safety of installations and advance the skills needed in the sector.
The solar industry is rapidly expanding around the world, with Asia taking the lead in solar uptake in 2016. The average pricing for rooftop solar PV systems in South Africa is influenced by various factors, such as the cost of installation, site solar irradiation, and financing terms. As the cost of PV modules decreases, the total cost of solar systems should also decrease. There is a significant potential for rooftop solar PV systems in South Africa, especially in the transition to a lower carbon-intensive economy, with more emphasis on storage and back-up systems. Overall, initiatives relating to quality assurance and skills development will lead to safer installations and the advancement of skills in the solar industry
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