Cape Town, South Africa

Enlit Africa 2026 once again brought together energy leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the continent, creating a platform for critical conversations shaping the future of Africa’s power sector. Among the highlights was a panel discussion exploring one of the most transformative shifts in the industry: the rise of the prosumer.

Solareff’s Chief Commercial Officer, DeVilliers Botha, joined a distinguished panel of experts for a session titled: “The Prosumer Revolution: Redesigning the System to Accommodate Bi-Directional Energy.”

Responding to a Changing Energy Landscape

As decentralised energy generation continues to gain momentum, the traditional role of electricity consumers is evolving. Increasingly, businesses and households are becoming “prosumers”, simultaneously producing and consuming electricity, fundamentally changing how energy systems are designed and managed.

The panel explored how utilities, regulators, and private sector players can effectively respond to this shift, focusing on three key areas:

  • Fair tariff and compensation models to ensure equitable value for energy generated and fed back into the grid
  • Technical and operational integration to support reliable, efficient bi-directional energy flows
  • Policy and regulatory certainty to enable long-term investment and innovation

These themes reflect broader industry discussions at Enlit Africa 2026, where the transition to more flexible, decentralised energy systems remains a central priority.

A Continental Perspective

The session brought together diverse perspectives from across Africa’s energy landscape, highlighting both shared challenges and region-specific considerations:

  • DeVilliers Botha, Chief Commercial Officer, Solareff
  • Dr Dalal Helmi, Head Sector for Electricity Market and Cross-Border Interconnection, Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) [Virtual]
  • Babatunde Osadare, Chief Legal Officer, Ikeja Electric, Nigeria
  • Peter Chamfya, Chief Technical Officer, Zesco, Zambia
  • Elijah Sichone, Director General, Energy Regulation Board (ERB), Zambia
  • Dr Silas Mulaudzi, Energy Specialist, South African Local Government Association (SALGA), South Africa

The discussion underscored the importance of cross-border learning and collaboration, particularly as African countries navigate different regulatory environments and grid capabilities.

Driving the Energy Transition Forward

The emergence of prosumers presents both opportunities and complexities. While decentralisation can improve energy resilience, reduce carbon emissions, and empower consumers, it also requires careful planning to maintain grid stability and ensure fair market participation.

Events like Enlit Africa play a critical role in fostering the dialogue needed to address these challenges. By bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain, the conference helps accelerate the development of practical, scalable solutions for a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

For Solareff, participation in these conversations reinforces its commitment to supporting a more sustainable, decentralised, and future-ready energy system.