Jonty Sacks explains solar’s contribution to SA’s clean energy transition

ESG Global sent Jonty Sacks, partner at Jaltech, three clever questions about load shedding, real-world environmental impact and his personal experience of the first-hand benefits of solar.

For years, the solar sales pitch was driven by fear of load shedding and Eskom’s massive price hikes. Now that the load shedding crisis is largely over, how do you adjust your message to keep businesses motivated to invest in solar?

Even during the height of load shedding, the economics of moving away from Eskom already made sense – load shedding simply accelerated decision-making. What’s changed now is the motivation, not the maths.

Our message today focuses squarely on cost efficiency and financial sustainability. Businesses are facing electricity tariffs that have risen by more than 400% over the past decade, while the cost of solar has fallen dramatically. When we show a client that they can save between 30% and 50% on their energy costs from day one, it’s a straightforward decision for any CEO or CFO.

How do you lead your team to make sure the focus stays on the real-world environmental impact — the actual solar panels and power generation — instead of just treating this as a clever financial product?

While the financial returns are important, we always measure and communicate our success by how much renewable energy we bring online and the long-term sustainability benefits it creates for the economy and the environment.

To date, we have saved thousands of trees and reduced carbon emissions by tens of thousands of tonnes, contributing meaningfully to South Africa’s clean energy transition.

Do you use solar at home? If so, what are they and what are some of the benefits you have realised?

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I live in a leafy suburb with large trees that make installing solar impractical. However, my partner and many of our clients who have installed systems have experienced the real benefits first-hand: consistent power, predictable energy costs, and genuine savings.

Beyond the financial advantages, they often talk about the peace of mind that comes with not having to worry about power interruptions or escalating tariffs. It’s also incredibly rewarding to know that every kilowatt-hour generated contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for South Africa.