Compliance
How much solar can I connect to the grid in South Africa?
For a grid-connected system, NERSA’s February 2026 clarification: installations of 100 kW or less register with the licensed distributor (municipality or Eskom); above 100 kW register with NERSA. That is a regulatory threshold — not a promise that your house may install 100 kW. Your notified maximum demand, DB, cable and metro SSEG rules usually set a much lower practical ceiling. Truly off-grid systems with no point of connection are generally outside that registration path.
Updated 26 October 2026 · Africa/Johannesburg
What actually limits a home
- Main breaker / NMD and whether the metro will raise it
- Approved inverter size on the metro’s NRS 097 list
- Export limits or zero-export settings the distributor requires
- Roof area and structural capacity
Many suburban homes land in the 3–12 kW inverter / array class for bill savings — not because 100 kW is forbidden, but because the supply and roof stop you earlier.
Registration ≠ CoC. You still need a compliant electrical certificate. Not legal advice — read NERSA’s latest notice and your distributor’s SSEG form.
Related answers
Sources
- Engineering News: NERSA clarifies SSEG registration (2 Feb 2026)
- NERSA — media statements on SSEG registration
- Your municipality / Eskom Distribution SSEG application pack for local caps
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