Solar Installments Slow in South Africa After Blackouts Ease

  • Association says capacity additions lag 2023 installations
  • State-owned Eskom has avoided power cuts for three months
A worker inspects photovoltaic panels at a solar plant in Evander, South Africa.Photographer: Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg
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Repairs to South Africa’s coal-fired stations that have helped the state power utility avoid debilitating blackouts for three months straight is giving solar installers an unintended break.

Until March, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. had inflicted power cuts for as many as 12 hours a day due to unreliable units prone to breakdowns. The outages have crimped the economy and inconvenienced residents who have burned candles, bought batteries and — for those who can afford it — put up solar panels.