Satellite images reveal the dark side of household solar power – South Africa’s green transition is only for a few

Publicly available satellite images show that homes in upper income suburbs are most likely to have solar systems. Middle income houses have far fewer, while low income homes have none. Imagery © Airbus 2025. Compiled by Zander Venter.

 

The Conversation – 20 May 2025

As winter approaches, memories of the past haunt South Africans in more ways than one. The country has experienced years of rolling blackouts, known locally as load shedding. During the worst periods of these power cuts in 2022 and 2023, South Africans who did not own solar photovoltaic systems or generators would go without electricity for up to 12 hours a day

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