Solar power system owners in the Western Cape can expect by far the greatest reduction in solar output through winter months of any other province in the country, with one tool indicating that solar energy output is expected to decrease by up to 45% from December highs.
South Africa is widely regarded as one of the best locations in the world for solar energy output, but winter weather conditions are likely to reduce performance slightly in most parts of the country.
Matthew Cruise, the head of business development at Forest Energy, a solar energy installation and financing company, used a solar modelling tool called Helioscope to model the expected output of solar energy systems in every province, given historical weather patterns.