South Africa’s long-standing energy crisis continues to disrupt daily life, but solar power is emerging as a critical lifeline for many households. For Mark Moodley, a resident of Benoni, east of Johannesburg, installing a home solar power system meant more than convenience — it became a matter of life and death for his 81-year-old mother.

She relies on an oxygen concentrator to breathe after a serious health scare that left her hospitalized in intensive care. But persistent power outages — often lasting up to six hours at a time — made the device unreliable. Moodley was forced to use car batteries to keep the machine running, and when those failed, his family faced terrifying medical emergencies.

“There were times when we had to rush her to the hospital because we couldn’t get enough oxygen into her lungs,” he said. But after installing solar panels and backup battery storage, everything changed. “It’s been a lifesaver,” he added.

South Africa has endured nearly 15 years of rolling blackouts known as load-shedding. These scheduled power cuts are designed to reduce strain on Eskom, the country’s state-owned power utility, which struggles with aging infrastructure, insufficient generation capacity, and a backlog of maintenance issues.

The ongoing power crisis has caused widespread economic disruption, impacting business productivity, job security, and household life. But the solar industry has grown rapidly in response. Households and businesses are now investing in rooftop solar systems, taking advantage of falling prices and flexible financing models such as pay-as-you-go and rent-to-own.

In the past two years, the cost of solar panels has dropped by more than 60 percent, and battery storage prices have followed a similar trend. This has made solar power more accessible to middle-income families who once viewed it as a luxury.

Government incentives are also supporting the shift. Households can claim up to 25 percent in tax rebates on new solar panels, while cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg have introduced programs that pay residents for feeding excess electricity back into the grid.

South Africa’s rooftop solar capacity has surged from under 1 gigawatt in 2022 to nearly 5 gigawatts by mid-2023, significantly easing pressure on Eskom’s grid. Experts predict that private solar generation may soon surpass Eskom’s own daytime output in some areas.

Despite the promising growth, barriers remain. Regulatory red tape, inconsistent municipal policies, and high fixed charges on solar users in certain cities are slowing wider adoption. Proposed import tariffs on solar equipment could also threaten affordability.

Still, the shift is undeniable. From suburban rooftops to remote villages, solar power is giving South Africans the independence and reliability they need amid a fragile energy landscape.

For families like the Moodleys, the investment in solar energy has done more than power their home — it has restored dignity and safety in uncertain times. As Mark Moodley said, “I don’t have to check on my mother every hour through the night. I know she’s breathing and safe.”