At the 2026 conference, SolarAfrica’s Matthew Turner will share how this shift is reshaping corporate energy procurement.
Just a few years ago, electricity wheeling in South Africa – including key markets like Cape Town (Western Cape), Johannesburg (Gauteng), Nelson Mandela Bay and East London (Eastern Cape), and Durban, Richards Bay and Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal) – was still largely conceptual.
Today it is becoming tangible, with the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector at the centre of the shift, as companies seek affordable, sustainable and alternative energy solutions for business.
At this year’s annual Electricity Wheeling Conference, taking place 16-17 April at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in the Western Cape, Matthew Turner, SolarAfrica’s Head of Innovation, will unpack what this next phase looks like for businesses procuring power through power wheeling, energy wheeling and solar wheeling models.
In his talk, “The Future of Wheeling in the C&I Sector: Fast-tracking Opportunities,” Matthew explores how corporate energy buyers are redefining the electricity market by pushing for flexible contracts, power purchase agreements (PPAs), solar financing structures and diversified power providers, enabling more green energy solutions and renewable energy for businesses.
Large-scale adoption of multilateral energy wheeling models, where renewable projects can serve multiple customers rather than a single offtaker
Rapid growth in private power procurement, driven by businesses seeking price stability and greener alternative solutions, such as solar electricity and commercial solar energy systems
The rise of trader-led market models, enabling greater flexibility and shorter contract structures for corporate buyers
Growing demand for flexible energy agreements, as C&I customers increasingly expect suppliers to share risk
These developments are taking place within the broader Eskom and municipal grid frameworks, where electricity wheeling regulations, wheeling charges in electricity, and municipal participation are influencing how wheeling in South Africa evolves.
Understanding electricity wheeling – including the electricity wheeling process and electricity wheeling agreements – is becoming critical for businesses navigating this transition, as South Africa moves away from a vertically integrated utility system toward a more open, competitive electricity market.
As Matthew so eloquently puts it in his talk: “The future of wheeling in the C&I sector will be written by those who listen to customers, respect regulatory realities, and have the courage to innovate where the two intersect.”
What is energy wheeling?
Energy wheeling (or electricity wheeling) allows businesses to purchase power from independent power providers (IPPs), such as solar farms, and transport that energy across the Eskom or municipal grid to their facilities. This enables access to green power solutions without needing on-site generation.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
|
No space constraints |
Access solar electricity from off-site solar farms, meaning no rooftop or on-site installation is required. Ideal for businesses with limited space or unsuitable infrastructure |
|
Cost stability |
Reduces exposure to Eskom tariff increases and volatile energy pricing |
|
No capex solar solutions |
Access solar power solutions through PPA structures without upfront investment |
|
Sustainability targets |
Supports ESG goals through renewable energy and eco energy solutions |
|
Flexibility |
Enables remote wheeling and multi-site energy strategies, with flexible and shorter-term contracts possible |
|
Energy security |
Reduces reliance on a single power provider and supports backup power solutions |
The two-day Electricity Wheeling Conference 2026, a leading renewable energy wheeling conference, will also explore the broader developments influencing SA’s power sector, covering topics such as:
