As South African businesses continue to face energy uncertainty and escalating electricity costs, solar energy has become more than a sustainability initiative – it is a strategic business decision. The question is no longer whether to go solar, but how to make the most out of its installation.

Solar power solutions provider SolarEdge’s DC-optimised inverter solution is already helping thousands of South African businesses such as Ford, Volkswagen and Massmart to unlock greater energy savings and enhance their safety and storage integration - far beyond what traditional string systems can offer. SolarEdge’s solution is exclusively the only optimised solution available in South Africa*^[1].

Why Traditional String Inverters Fall Short

Conventional string systems connect multiple solar panels in series. The downside? The entire string’s performance is limited by the weakest panel. If one panel is shaded, dirty, or underperforming, energy production of the entire system suffers.

This is especially problematic in South Africa, where rooftops are often irregular or partially shaded, dust and debris can accumulate quickly, and system uptime is critical for business continuity.

Optimised for South African Business Needs

SolarEdge’s Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPE) architecture, powered by power optimisers, transforms each solar panel into a smart energy producer. Unlike string systems, each panel operates at its maximum potential, regardless of the performance of neighboring panels.

The direct business benefits include generating more energy in shaded or dusty conditions, achieving a higher return on investment through improved energy yield, and reducing downtime with real-time monitoring. These benefits also extend to offering flexible design options for complex rooftops and solar array expansions, as well as ensuring compliance with PV safety standards and fire mitigation requirements.

South African commercial buildings often have multiple roof orientations, obstructions like HVAC units or skylights and limited space for solar arrays.

SolarEdge’s MLPE architecture allows panels to face different directions and tilts, for maximum rooftop utilisation and easy system expansion as energy needs grow.

This is ideal for retail centres, warehouses, factories and office parks.

Safety First

Electrical safety is a key concern in solar installations. SolarEdge’s built-in SafeDC™ technology is designed to automatically reduce voltage to touch-safe levels during emergencies, maintenance or inverter / grid shutdowns. This is critical for fire safety compliance, insurance requirements and protecting staff and first responders.

In contrast, traditional string systems maintain high DC voltage during daylight hours even when the inverter is off, which could pose a serious risk.

Smart Monitoring

SolarEdge’s cloud-based monitoring provides real-time visibility into every panel’s performance, which for business owners means faster, pinpointed fault detection, remote troubleshooting and lower maintenance costs. Customers know exactly how the system is performing, down to the panel level, so you can make informed decisions and maximise uptime.

One of the biggest advantages of SolarEdge is its seamless integration with battery storage. With the SolarEdge Commercial Storage System, businesses can store excess solar energy for use when needed, power critical operations during loadshedding and shift energy use to off-peak times.

This is a game-changer for industries such as manufacturing, logistics and retail, where power continuity is essential.

In a market defined by uncertainty, SolarEdge offers greater energy independence. With its Power Optimiser technology, businesses gain higher energy output, lower operational costs and full compliance with the stringent industry safety standards.

Whether you are looking to reduce costs, improve sustainability, or protect your operations from loadshedding, SolarEdge is the partner to power your business forward.

Take control of your business savings with SolarEdge, the smarter way.

Get SolarEdge consultation and more information here.

[1] *Based on our analysis of the PV SA market which found no other commercially available products with optimization technology as of 2025.