A South African University Is Turning Its Campuses Into Solar Power Stations

South Africa's Nelson Mandela University is installing a 4.4 MW solar system with more than 8,500 panels across its seven campuses. Combined with a renewable supply deal with Etana Energy from May 2027, nearly 80% of its electricity will come from renewable sources.

The main building on Nelson Mandela University's South Campus. Solar panels are being installed across all seven of its campuses. Photo: Rasmzet, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

By the UISC BD Editorial Desk · United Information Service Center · Published 13 September 2026 · 4-minute read

"Nelson Mandela University solar panels" was one of the rising university-related searches on Google this week. The project is a practical example of how large institutions can cut costs and emissions together.

The Project

Capacity: 4.4 megawatts of solar generation.
Panels: more than 8,500 solar modules.
Where: all seven campuses — six in Gqeberha and one in George.
Share of power: 25 to 30 percent of the university's total electricity needs.
Cost: R68 million.
Expected savings: R8 to 10 million a year, against an annual electricity bill of about R60 million.

Timeline

Mid-November 2025: construction began.
Already generating: the Summerstrand North and Ocean Sciences campuses.
End of November 2026: full completion expected.

Towards 80 Percent Renewable

The solar installation is half of the plan. The university has also partnered with independent power producer Etana Energy for renewable electricity delivered through the grid from May 2027, under a 10-year agreement. Together, on-site solar and Etana's supply are expected to provide nearly 80 percent of the university's electricity from renewable sources.

Less Diesel During Power Cuts

During electricity outages, the university has run diesel generators costing around R150,000 a day and burning about 6,000 litres of diesel daily. With solar in place, diesel use is expected to fall to just 10 to 20 percent of previous consumption.

Research as Well as Savings

Specialist testing company PVinsight is involved in the project, and in April 2026 the university became the 14th member of PV CAMPER, an international research collaboration led by the US Sandia National Laboratories that studies how solar panels perform in different climates.

Why It Matters

Universities are large, round-the-clock energy users, and their campuses offer plenty of roof and ground space. Projects like this one show how solar can provide cheaper, more reliable and cleaner power at the same time — a small part of the global shift in which renewables have now overtaken coal.

Sources

"Solar PV boost for Nelson Mandela University," Nelson Mandela University News — news.mandela.ac.za
"Top South African university says goodbye to Eskom with 8,500 solar panels," MyBroadband — mybroadband.co.za
"Nelson Mandela University joins Sandia-led collaborative," Sandia LabNews — sandia.gov
"Mandela University's renewable shift signals a new energy future for South Africa," EdNews Africa — ednews.africa

campus renewable energy (1)

Nelson Mandela University Installs 8,500 Solar Panels to Run on Nearly 80% Renewable Power