Outlier Renewables

2024-07-23

PostInsights

South Africa imports 407MW of solar panels from China

In June, South Africa imported 407MW of solar panels to the value of $48.8-million from China. It’s the highest number of megawatts imported in a month so far this year.

Last year, the country imported a record 4,345MW of solar panels, demand being fed by the 335 days of loadshedding experienced in 2023. The most every imported in a month was May 2023, with 877MW.

Chart: Outlier Insights

2024-07-22

PostOwic

South African drivers are warming to hybrid EVs

South Africans are showing a preference for traditional hybrid vehicles over fully electric or plug-in hybrids. More than 6,000 traditional hybrid vehicles, which combine a internal combustion engine with a battery that charges while driving, were sold in 2023. This is 10 times the number sold in 2021.

Fully electric and plug-in hybrids remain less popular, with only 1,147 sold in same period. This is up from 384 in 2021.

According to AutoTraderSA, the most popular hybrid cars available in South Africa are the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, the Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid, and the Honda Fit HEV.

The local market is far from developed by global standards. Fewer than 1% of vehicle sales in South Africa in 2023 were fully electric or plug-in hybrids (excluding traditional hybrids), while the global average was 18%.

All 500+ charts ➙

2024-04-29

PostBorderedCard

South Africa poised to strike gold with green hydrogen

Green hydrogen could have a transformative effect on South Africa: it could be used to clean up domestic industries and its export could add billions to the GDP.

2023-09-18

PostBorderlessCard

Africa’s unrealised solar potential

Africa has 60% of the world’s solar potential but generates 2% of the total solar power.