The latest monitoring report on renewable energy power plants from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) indicates that, while installed renewable capacity continues to expand, actual energy output remains variable and dependent on resource conditions.
The March 2026 report tracks the performance of wind, solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) plants connected to the grid under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.
The data shows that renewable generation continues to contribute to the national energy mix but output fluctuates across technologies, reflecting the inherent variability of wind and solar resources. Plant performance, measured through indicators such as energy sent out, availability and capacity factors, differs significantly depending on technology and operating conditions.
Wind and solar PV account for the majority of renewable energy produced while CSP provides more stable, dispatchable output although at lower overall contribution levels.
The report also highlights the gap between installed capacity and actual energy delivered, reinforcing the role of system conditions and resource availability in determining real output from renewable plants.
NERSA said the monitoring is intended to provide ongoing oversight of plant performance as more renewable capacity is integrated into the grid.
