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Grid access tops solar industry’s agenda as SAPVIA AGM T he South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA)’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) reflects on a year of 2025 to March 2026), as captured in the association’s annual report, and setting out the work programme for the financial year now under way. “The focus remains aligned with the
Storage, operations and maintenance, and end-of-life management Beyond grid access, the AGM confirmed three additional focus areas for the coming year. SAPVIA’s newly launched Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) working group – which attracted more than 100 participants at its first session – will work to ensure that storage is properly regulated, that appropriate market codes are in place, and that localisation opportunities are supported, aligning with the association’s ongoing work under the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM). A second working group will address operations and maintenance (O&M). With the country’s installed solar capacity having roughly doubled over the past three to four years, members have identified a skills gap in O&M and a need for standardised approaches to maintaining these assets. The association will also begin exploring end-of-life management for solar components – early-stage work that will become increasingly important as the first generation of large-scale assets matures. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association Industry Awards returned for a second year to recognise the individuals, projects, and organisations driving innovation, growth, and meaningful impact across South Africa’s solar PV sector. (A full list of winners appears in the footnotes.) The day also saw the election of new members of SAPVIA’s Governing Committee. De Villiers Botha was elected Chairperson, with commissioners Adv. Mtho Xulu, Antje Klauss-Vorreiter, Frank Spencer, Prenesen Govender, Ziska McGilton, and Wale Aboyade. The Governing Committee will serve a one- year term of office.
association’s mandate on grid-related matters, which continue to affect projects from early development through to advanced construction. Key priorities agreed for the year include: Transparency in the grid connection queue: SAPVIA will press Eskom to make the queue publicly available, enabling developers to see who is in it and how long applications have been pending. Eskom’s (limited) initiatives to date are acknowledged. Implementation of the approved grid capacity allocation rules: Although NERSA approved a final set of rules last year, Eskom’s Grid Access Unit is still applying the interim rules introduced as a stop-gap measure during the height of load-shedding. SAPVIA has begun engaging with NECOM 3.0, Eskom and NERSA to resolve the impasse. Expansion and strengthening of the grid: The association regularly engages with the IPP Office on the Independent Transmission Programme (ITP) progress. The pre- qualification phase has concluded, and the request for proposals is expected soon. The fifth South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey: SAPVIA has committed to the next iteration of the survey to establish the status of the national pipeline of renewable energy projects. This work will be led by SAPVIA’s Grid Access Working Group, in close partnership with the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), the Department of Electricity and Energy and its entities, NERSA, the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), and Eskom’s grid access unit. “There is a great deal happening around grid, and it affects a large share of our members. Our objective is simple: to remove the barriers standing in the way of members deploying their projects,” said Melamu. control systems are essential to ensure power reaches where it is needed safely and efficiently. Built locally. Working across Africa. The reach of our Panel Workshop continues to expand. Low-voltage electrical solutions have been supplied to customers across Southern Africa, including Mozambique and Namibia, where ACDC Dynamics recently expanded its presence by opening a new branch in Windhoek. Beyond Southern Africa, Motor Control Centres and Distribution Boards have also been supplied to customers in the DRC, Nigeria and Ghana.
policy advocacy and market growth and hands the association a clear mandate for grid transparency, battery storage and skills for the coming financial year. Grid access, battery energy storage and the skills required to maintain South Africa’s rapidly expanding solar fleet emerged as the defining issues for the solar PV industry at SAPVIA’s AGM held in Johannesburg recently, alongside the association’s annual industry awards and gala dinner. The AGM served a dual purpose: reporting to members on the activities and initiatives delivered by the SAPVIA secretariat during the 2025/26 financial year (April
strategy our members have endorsed,” said Dr Rethabile Melamu, CEO of SAPVIA. “We will continue to advocate for a regulatory and policy landscape that enables greater uptake of solar PV; to inform and educate our members and broader society about the role solar can play in individual lives and the economy; to build strategic partnerships with government; and to communicate effectively about the sector’s progress.” Grid access: the industry’s most pressing challenge Members used the AGM to sharpen the
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From water infrastructure to solar power: built for the challenge B ehind every electrical system lies a challenge that needs solving. Whether it’s keeping a water-pump Taking on the heat In another specialised project, our team manufactured a heat-tracing control panel for a solar thermal power plant.
With an extensive in-house range of enclosures and switchgear, supported by dedicated Transformer and Electronic Workshops, ACDC Dynamics can bring together multiple areas of expertise under one roof. From water infrastructure and industrial facilities to renewable energy projects, every application presents its own challenges. The goal is simple: understand the requirement, engineer the right solution, and build it to perform. For custom-built control panels, MCCs, switchboards and transformer solutions, contact the ACDC Dynamics Panel Workshop.
station running, controlling heat in a solar thermal plant, or distributing power across an off-grid industrial site, the right electrical solution is critical. That’s where the ACDC Dynamics Panel Workshop comes in. From standard motor starters, distribution boards and ready-to-install inverter kits to fully customised Motor Control Centres (MCCs), switchboards and control panels, the team designs and manufactures solutions for a wide range of applications. Some recent projects have put that expertise to work in exciting ways. Keeping water moving One of our latest projects is a water pump station upgrade for the City of Ekurhuleni Water and Sanitation Department. The project comprises two powerful 2000 A, 400 V Motor Control Centres. Phase 1 is already operational, featuring four 250 kW Danfoss VLT Variable Speed Drives, fully automated via a PLC control system. Phase 2 is almost complete and includes three 315 kW Danfoss VLT Variable Speed Drives. The result is a robust control solution that supports the efficient and reliable operation of essential water infrastructure.
The plant uses concentrated solar power to generate thermal energy for electricity generation. To help manage this process, the panel monitors and controls the heat- exchange system using thermocouples, 60 solid-state relays and PLC-based automation. With that much equipment generating heat inside the panel, temperature control was essential. The solution? Panel-mounted air-conditioning units, all housed in a weatherproof 3CR12 enclosure. It’s a great example of how smart engineering can address complex challenges in demanding environments. Powering industry off the grid The shift towards alternative energy is creating new challenges for electrical distribution, and the Panel Workshop has been involved in several projects supporting sustainable energy applications. One standout project was a 4000 A, 400 V outdoor Distribution Board designed for an off-grid solar system that powers an industrial business park. Large-scale renewable energy projects require more than solar panels alone. Behind the scenes, reliable distribution and
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SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS
AUGUST 2026
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