The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) says it supports efforts to ensure the safety and performance of the national grid and reminds businesses and members of the public of the mandatory requirement to register small-scale embedded generators (SSEG).

SSEG refers to a customer-owned generation unit, typically less than 1 MW/1 MVA in generation capacity, connected to the electricity distribution network. Solar PV is the most common SSEG technology.

SAPVIA explains that these installations are governed by a combination of national legislation and regulations, national standards, local municipal by-laws and regulations, as well as the national grid code, administered by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).

“As an industry body that speaks for the solar PV sector, we remain committed to playing our part to support the seamless integration of SSEG into the national grid while ensuring adherence to all regulatory and safety guidelines.

“SAPVIA supports the registration of all grid-tied installations in accordance with the requirements,” says SAPVIA technical specialist (solar) De Wet Taljaard.

The association points out that guidelines and regulations have been published by State-owned power utility Eskom and most major municipalities that govern the connection of grid-tied solar power in South Africa and which apply to any system that is connected to the relevant distribution network.

“Homeowners and industry stakeholders only need to register with their respective distributors. This means that a municipal customer only needs to register with the relevant municipality, while Eskom direct customers must register with the utility,” says Taljaard.

Compliance with the regulations is mandatory, he emphasises.

“To assist in this compliance process, SAPVIA has developed an easy reference document that explains the responsibilities of various role-players to ensure effective compliance management.

“Registering an SSEG system involves a structured process to ensure safety, grid stability, and compliance. By following these steps and engaging with Eskom or municipal authorities, homeowners and installers can successfully integrate SSEG into South Africa’s electricity network.”

SAPVIA has organised a webinar session for February 26 to explore the roles of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications and the National Renewable Energy Standard in shaping South Africa's energy landscape.  

Find more information and registration links at https://app.glueup.com/event/from-compliance-to-sustainability-the-role-of-nrcs-and-nrs-131302/

SAPVIA has also published a useful reference document on the SSEG Registration Process: https://sapvia.co.za/small-scale-embedded-generation-sseg-registration-process/