Is solar the light at the end of the tunnel for SA’s energy crisis?

Cape Town – With doom and gloom dominating conversations on the energy crisis, representatives from local solar energy companies, climate finance platforms and the government gathered to discuss how this crisis could be used to harness South Africa’s potential to become one of the biggest producers of energy in the world.

Representatives also delved into how the solar power industry was coping with the rapid increase in demand being experienced in Cape Town, and the knock-on effects that harnessing solar power, amid the energy crisis, could have on job creation, the environment and growth in other sectors.

A panel discussion on these matters was held with DA spokesperson on energy Kevin Mileham; Tyger Geldenhuis, CEO of local solar PV company Trust Solar; Adrian Won, founder of Senken, the climate finance trading platform of on-chain carbon credits; Ahren Posthumus, the CEO of local tech start-up Momint and SunCash.

The event was moderated by Kieno Kammies, co-founder of Innovation City, which played host to the platform where solutions to challenges society faces today could be shared.

All panellists believe that there is enough solar potential in SA to power the world, if only they could build the infrastructure for the required storage facilities and create the right regulatory environment.