Zander Venter

🌙 Satellite data on nighttime light reveals that areas with higher solar adoption experience less severe declines during load shedding. Conversely, majority Black African neighborhoods see nighttime light reductions twice as large as those in white areas. #LoadSheddin 5/5

📊 The disparities are stark. Majority-white census tracts boast an average of 3.5 m² of solar panels per person. In contrast, areas predominantly inhabited by Black, Coloured, and Indian populations have just 0.048 m² per person—a 73-fold difference. #ApartheidLegacy 4/5

🔍 Between 2016 and 2023, household solar installations in South Africa grew by an astounding 140% annually. However, this growth is uneven: high-income areas average nearly 2 panels per household, while low-income neighborhoods have virtually none. #SolarInequality 3/5

Read more here: theconversation.com/satellite-im... Paper here: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1... 2/5

🚨 New research reveals that South Africa's solar boom is deepening inequality. While rooftop solar adoption has surged, it's predominantly benefiting wealthier, white communities. Meanwhile, poorer, Black-majority areas remain in the dark. #EnergyJustice #LoadShedding 1/5