The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved 124 new renewable energy generation facilities totalling 804 MW of capacity during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. Representing an estimated R20.18 billion in private investment across all nine provinces, the applications were processed in an average turnaround time of 10 working days—an improvement from the 11-day average achieved in Q1 2025/26.
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- Wind Dominance in Output: Two utility-scale wind projects account for 568 MW (70.6%) of the newly registered capacity.
- Solar PV Volume: 122 solar PV installations make up the remaining 236 MW of capacity.
- Capital Intensity: The average development cost across all approved projects averaged R25,099 per kilowatt.
| Network Type | Approved Facilities | Combined Capacity | Estimated Investment |
| Eskom Grid | 61 | 757 MW | R19.54 billion |
| Municipal Networks | 63 | 47 MW | R639 million |
| Total | 124 | 804 MW | R20.18 billion |
Since the inception of South Africa’s generation registration framework in 2018, NERSA has registered 2,619 facilities representing 20,131 MW of combined capacity and roughly R409 billion in cumulative investment. NERSA noted that accelerating the approval pipeline remains crucial for bolstering grid reliability, guiding national energy planning, and supporting the broader transition toward a competitive, renewable-led electricity market.



