In this blog, we will highlight the core messages that emerged, particularly focusing on how Virtual Wheeling is becoming a game-changer for businesses across the nation.

What is Virtual Wheeling and Why Does It Matter?

For years, many businesses, especially those connected to municipal electricity networks, faced a significant hurdle in directly accessing clean energy from private producers. Virtual Wheeling removes this barrier. It’s a sophisticated mechanism that allows electricity generated from a renewable energy source, such as a large-scale solar farm located elsewhere, to be “virtually” delivered to a business through the existing national or municipal grid.

This innovative approach offers a practical and scalable way for businesses to significantly reduce their carbon footprint and transition to sustainable energy.

Key Benefits for Businesses

The webinar underscored several compelling advantages of Virtual Wheeling:

• Access to Clean Energy: Businesses can directly procure renewable energy, aligning with sustainability goals and enhancing their environmental credentials.
• Cost Efficiency: Accessing wholesale renewable energy through Independent Power Producers (IPPs) like SOLA can lead to significant cost savings on electricity bills.
• No Infrastructure Changes: One of the most attractive aspects is that businesses can go green without the need for on-site solar panel installations or alterations to existing electrical systems. This makes the transition quicker and simpler.
• Continued Supply: You remain with your current electricity supplier (Eskom or municipality), ensuring no service interruptions.
• Administrative Simplicity: The process is designed to be streamlined, allowing for rebates on energy purchased from a renewable energy generator.

What Was Discussed in the Webinar?

Mutenda Tshipala – Eskom
Mutenda Tshipala opened the session by contextualising Eskom’s launch of the Virtual Wheeling platform as a natural progression from its pilot phase into a scalable national product. He explained that the platform allows energy to be digitally tracked across multiple consumption sites, enabling corporate buyers to benefit from renewable energy through a centralised and regulated process. Tshipala highlighted how the platform aligns with Eskom’s broader strategy to unlock more private investment in renewables, creating a pathway for large-scale energy users to support grid decarbonisation.

Andre Nepgen – Discovery Green
Andre Nepgen provided an overview of Discovery Green’s mission to unlock affordable, utility-scale renewable energy for businesses in South Africa. He explained how the Virtual Wheeling platform is central to this, making clean energy procurement more accessible and aligned with corporate sustainability strategies. Nepgen framed the platform as an enabling mechanism for businesses looking to meet ESG targets while still benefiting from price predictability and energy reliability, positioning it as a critical tool in South Africa’s green transition.

Jacques de Vos – Mezzanine (Vodacom Group)
Jacques de Vos offered practical insights from Vodacom’s experience as the pilot customer for the Virtual Wheeling initiative. He explained how Mezzanine, part of the Vodacom Group, developed a digital interface that integrates time-of-use (TOU) metering and reconciles data across multiple sites. De Vos highlighted the importance of having automated and auditable data flows between generators and off-takers, which makes energy settlement more transparent and scalable. His input demonstrated the feasibility and technical soundness of the platform in real-world applications.

Shirley Salvoldi – Cresco
With her deep policy and regulatory background, Shirley Salvoldi unpacked the foundational elements that made the Virtual Wheeling platform possible. She traced the evolution from physical wheeling to a digital mechanism, emphasising the importance of regulatory support, such as TOU tariffs and third-party metering integration. Salvoldi also addressed key challenges such as metering compliance and platform interoperability, offering a clear view of the technical and policy frameworks required to make virtual wheeling function within South Africa’s energy landscape.

Jonathan Skeen – SOLA
Jonathan Skeen concluded with a commercial perspective, reflecting on SOLA’s experience in wheeling renewable energy to private off-takers. He highlighted how the Virtual Wheeling platform provides a route for clean energy to be accessed by multiple sites and clients, especially where physical wheeling was previously limited by geography or infrastructure. Skeen reinforced that virtual wheeling not only improves efficiency but unlocks new opportunities for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and corporate buyers alike, ultimately accelerating the shift towards a more distributed and decarbonised energy system.

The Role of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)

At the heart of Virtual Wheeling lies the power purchase agreement (PPA). These agreements are crucial as they outline the terms under which a business commits to buying electricity from a renewable energy generator. PPAs provide long-term price certainty and enable the development of new renewable energy projects, creating a stable and predictable environment for both energy buyers and producers. They are the contractual backbone that makes virtual wheeling possible and reliable.

Ready to Explore Virtual Wheeling for Your Business?

SOLA has been at the forefront of implementing wheeling projects in South Africa, including the commissioning of some of the largest wheeling projects in the country. Our track record demonstrates our capability and dedication to facilitating this crucial shift in the energy landscape.

If your business is looking to reduce costs, meet sustainability goals, and secure a reliable energy supply, Virtual Wheeling offers a compelling solution.

Take the next step towards a cleaner, more reliable energy future, by  visiting our Buy Energy page.