Introducing Electricity 2.0
Future-proof your business with our next-generation virtual power solutions.
YOUR POWER REIMAGINED
What is Electricity 2.0?
Electricity 2.0 is the future of renewable energy in South Africa, today.
This is our Virtual Power Ecosystem, offering next-generation solutions that seamlessly work together to help your business:
- Save on your electricity bills
- Reach your sustainability targets
- Take more control of where, how and when you consume power
With Electricity 2.0, your business has the ability to evolve from traditional power sources like utility power, on-site solar and battery solutions to a new category of energy solutions called virtual power solutions.
These energy solutions offer flexibility in terms of pricing and energy source. They let you choose where you buy your power from and when you use it. Eskom, solar, wheeling or others: you can decide what the best and cheapest form of electricity is to consume at a time that makes the most sense to your operations.
Features
Electricity 2.0’s virtual power solutions offer several business-boosting benefits.
- Fully scalable, upsize or downsize how much power you buy.
- No-nonsense pricing – our favourable tariffs are clear from the start
- Flexible contracts with hassle-free early termination options
- Access to multiple sources of renewable energy
- Seamless integration with any other electricity solutions
- No physical installation, design or engineering required
- No physical system maintenance or operational costs for your business
- Long-term power and price certainty with agreements up to 25 years in tenure
"You can decide what the best and cheapest form of electricity is to consume at a time that makes the most sense to your operations."
The advantages of Electricity 2.0
Electricity tariffs have soared by almost 34% over the past two years (and 450% since 2008). It’s set to rise by another 44% in 2025, with more volatile increases in store after that. Virtual energy solutions offer protection against these price hikes.
Financial benefits
- Tariffs are up to 50% cheaper than Eskom’s
- Guaranteed savings on your electricity bill
- Simplified & centralised billing offers more control over your monthly spend
- No upfront costs to get going – simply sign your Virtual Power Purchase Agreement
- No upfront payment
- Guaranteed savings
- 1 bill for multiple sites
With increasing pressure on businesses to go green and use sustainable energy, most are often stuck without access to funding or the necessary infrastructure to install solar on site. The amount of green energy you can produce with your own system is also limited. Electricity 2.0 offers access to cleaner, greener energy at scale – helping you fast-track your sustainability goals.
Sustainability benefits
- Renewable energy at scale, either from our solar farms or other providers
- Multiple sources like wind and solar to diversify your energy mix
- Keep track of your green energy use with clear, transparent billing & reporting
- Renewable Energy Certificates and carbon credits available
As your business grows, so does the way you consume power and the path you choose as you journey towards becoming 100% green. Electricity 2.0 offers flexible, customised renewable energy solutions so that you can evolve your business beyond what the current electricity landscape offers.
Operational benefits
- Simple contracts – one agreement for multiple sites
- Future-proof operations with long-term certainty on your electricity spend
- Take control of your power to operate more independently
- Strategically decide which parts of your business are powered by sustainable energy
"Electricity 2.0 offers access to cleaner, greener energy at scale - helping you fast-track your sustainability goals."
If this is Electricity 2.0, what is Electricity 1.0?
Traditionally, South Africans have only one option when it comes to electricity supply: our national utility Eskom. There’s no real option for cheap electricity and no opportunity to sustainably explore other avenues.
With Electricity 2.0 the power monopoly is a thing of the past. You get to choose where you buy your power from and have more control of when and how you consume your energy solutions.
Important note: Electricity 2.0 is not replacing Eskom. Utility power is still an essential part of South Africa’s energy is part of the mix & gives customers the choice to select the best, cheapest form of power in a way that makes sense to them – whatever the source may be.
We work with Eskom to bring our renewable energy solutions right to your doorstep. Thanks to this private/public partnership we can also invest in the energy landscape by taking generation pressure off Eskom (through our solar farms), strengthening the local networks (through utility-scale and other battery installations) and providing key infrastructure (like our Medium Transmission Substations).
"With Electricity 2.0 the power monopoly is a thing of the past."
It’s time to move from consumer to prosumer
- Electricity 2.0 makes this transition easier than ever
- Become part of the empowered electricity community in South Africa
- Gain access to an open and collaborative electricity ecosystem
Electricity 1.0 vs Electricity 2.0
| Aspect | Electricity 1.0 | Electricity 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
|
Governance |
Monopolistic |
Open and collaborative |
|
Energy flow |
One-way |
Multi-directional |
|
Money flow |
One-way |
Multi-directional |
|
Fuel source |
Fossil fuels |
Renewable energy |
|
Cost |
Expensive |
Cheap |
|
Consumer contract options |
Limited options |
Customised and flexible plans |
|
Community engagement |
Individual consumption |
Community-driven |
|
Performance |
Less resilient |
Superior performance with lower maintenance costs |
| Type | Electricity 1.0 | Electricity 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Governance |
Monopolistic |
Open and collaborative |
|
|
Energy flow |
One-way |
Multi-directional |
|
|
Money flow |
One-way |
Multi-directional |
|
|
Fuel source |
Fossil fuels |
Renewable energy |
|
|
Cost |
Expensive |
Cheap |
|
|
Consumer contract options |
Limited options |
Customised and flexible plans |
|
|
Community engagement |
Individual consumption |
Community-driven |
|
|
Performance |
Less resilient |
Superior performance with lower maintenance costs |
|
What is the Virtual Power Ecosystem?
The Virtual Power Ecosystem brings the future of electricity to your business. You can move from what you know (utility power, traditional solar and battery) to sustainable energy with our virtual solutions (wheeling, trading and aggregation).
By being part of the ecosystem, you can seamlessly move between electricity solutions to set yourself up for financial, sustainability and operational success for years to come.
Our Virtual Power Solutions
Wheeling
Replace your usual electricity with a cheaper, greener option. We generate electricity on our solar farms that you can buy power directly from us at favourable tariffs.
Flexibility with firm & non-firm agreements
Top-up options available
No hidden costs or unexpected escalations
Transparent billing with tariffs up to 50% cheaper
Trading
We buy renewable energy that we can sell to you at favourable tariffs. Diversify your energy mix with sustainable energy to reach your green goals quicker.
Competitive rates from multiple providers
A diversified mix of renewable energy solutions (solar, wind, and more)
Different sources supplement each other (when solar isn’t available)
Aggregation
Become a part of your own local power community. Simplified billing, a diversified power sources, flexible agreements & ownership options.
Merge all your bills into one invoice for easy payment
Better monitoring & control of your power across connection points
Smaller sites can also get wheeling as part of a larger community
Not what you’re looking for? View our other energy solutions
"The Virtual Power Ecosystem brings the future of electricity to your business."
Wheeling: Your first step to upgrade to Electricity 2.0
What is wheeling?
SolarAfrica is an IPP, which means that your business can buy power directly from us:
- Eskom produces power, which your business buys from them (either directly or through your municipality)
- SolarAfrica, as an electricity wheeling service provider, can also produce power that we put into the grid
- Your business can buy this power from us
- Our power is cheaper (our Wheeling tariffs for commercial businesses are up to 50% cheaper than Eskom’s tariffs) and because it’s generated on massive solar farms, the power is 100% green.
- The power also has a steady supply that is not in danger of ageing power plant infrastructure or repairs.
- The wheeled power you use gets credited against your normal monthly bill (this is called reconciliation).
Total Energy = Wheeling Energy + Energy under your Municipal/Eskom supply agreement
Who can benefit from Electricity 2.0?
Key customers
- Ideal for heavy electricity users who need cheap electricity
- Businesses/operations with multiple sites, bills and connection points
- Rural and farming operations can benefit from aggregation specifically
- Industries such as mining, manufacturing, production and automotive with strict net-zero green goals
Who is SolarAfrica and why can we lead the charge with Electricity 2.0?
Powering hundreds of businesses across South Africa for more than a decade
Several teams under one roof: engineering, compliance, maintenance, projects & more.
Two-time winners: 2021 & 2023 African Solar Company of the Year
Part of the Starsight Energy Group, backed by Helios Investment Partners and AIIM
With maintenance, insurance and operations all included
FAQs
Electricity 2.0 is SolarAfrica’s innovative approach to using renewable energy to power businesses sustainably. It’s our virtual power ecosystem that offers more choice and control of your power than ever before.
Electricity wheeling involves transmitting electricity from a renewable energy source, such as a solar farm, through the existing grid to a different location where it is consumed. This allows businesses to use renewable energy even if they are not located near the energy source.
Using renewable energy can reduce your carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and improve your business’s sustainability credentials, making it more attractive to eco-conscious consumers and stakeholders.
By leveraging our virtual energy solutions like power wheeling and electricity trading, businesses can often secure lower electricity rates compared to traditional fossil fuel sources, leading to significant cost savings over time.
Power purchase agreements let you install a solar system on site, with no upfront cost. In the PPA, you receive a tariff for the solar energy you consume, and you pay only for the power you consume.
A virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) is a contract between an energy buyer (your business) and a renewable energy provider (us) for virtual power. It allows businesses to purchase electricity at predetermined rates, providing price stability and long-term savings.
Independent power producers (IPPs) are private entities that generate electricity for sale to utilities or directly to consumers. They play a crucial role in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, providing alternatives to traditional power suppliers.
SolarAfrica combines financial and technical expertise to design tailored energy solutions that meet the unique needs of each business, ensuring reliable power supply and maximised cost savings.
SolarAfrica stands out by offering comprehensive, tailored solutions that include financing, installation, and maintenance of renewable energy systems, all designed to provide sustainable energy and cost savings for businesses. As both a renewable energy company and an Independent Power Producer, we can offer a variety of on-site and virtual solutions at scale, and sustainably.
Yes, through electricity wheeling, your business can benefit from renewable energy generated at offsite solar farms, regardless of your physical location, thanks to the existing grid infrastructure.
Any commercial or industrial business looking to reduce energy costs, enhance sustainability, and secure reliable power supply can benefit from power wheeling and renewable energy solutions provided by SolarAfrica.
Any commercial or industrial business looking to reduce energy costs, enhance sustainability, and secure reliable power supply can benefit from virtual energy solutions provided by SolarAfrica. Electricity 2.0 lets you upgrade to more choice and more control of your power than ever before.
A Virtual Power Solution refers to our suite of energy options that offers innovations such as Wheeling, trading and aggregation. They require zero on-site installation or maintenance as each solution is essentially a form of a financial transaction.
Virtual solutions require no installation or physical setup. Our Energy Experts will advise you on the process regarding any agreements you need to have in place to receive virtual power.
Electricity 2.0 is the catalyst of change in the South African electricity landscape. High-power users who need to save money on their monthly bills and companies that need to meet net-zero targets with large amounts of green energy benefit most from Electricity 2.0. Through our aggregation model, smaller businesses down the line could stand to benefit by being part of a local power community.
Eskom is still an essential part of South Africa’s energy mix. It offers you another avenue to choose a power source that makes the most sense to your business at a specific time. For instance, overnight off-peak rates from Eskom could work well for your business that you can then supplement with cheaper Wheeling power during the day.
Electricity 2.0 is a business solution in the commercial and industrial sectors. Further innovations down the line could see virtual power extend to residential homes, but for the moment it’s limited to businesses.
Any commercial or industrial business looking to reduce energy costs, enhance sustainability, and secure reliable power supply can benefit from power wheeling and renewable energy solutions provided by SolarAfrica.
Electricity 2.0 offers 100% virtual solutions. Some of the options, like Wheeling and trading, can give you access to solar energy at scale that is produced on solar farms. If you prefer an on-site solar system, then you can opt for our financed or cash purchase options.
Electricity 2.0 is specifically designed to lower electricity bills and provide more green power. If you are concerned about grid interruptions, installing a battery energy storage system (BESS) on-site is the only real way to keep your lights on should the power go off.
Want to experience the business benefits of our Virtual Power Ecosystem for yourself? Simply submit your details to our Sales team and we’ll be in touch!
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