Looking at Grid – Tied Rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic Systems as a Feasible Power Generation Technology

Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems currently contribute a limited amount of power to South Africa’s electricity supply, with installed capacity estimated at 150MW. But these systems are characterised by low capital and operation and maintenance expenditure requirements, and are privately financed. And advances in PV technologies with economies of scale in production have resulted in declining costs over the past decade. This briefing note looks at the feasibility of rooftop solar PV systems as a feasible power generation technology.