Country snapshot · Southern Africa
Botswana
Solar added each year
Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.
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| Year | MW | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15.8 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 104.3 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 29.8 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 69.2 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.4% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (69.2 of 17,449.4 MW).1
Who has electricity
Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.
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| Area | Access | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rural | 45.9% | 2024 |
| Urban | 96.7% | 2024 |
| National | 80.2% | 2024 |
World Bank WDI, 2024.2
How reliable is the grid for business?
Firms experiencing electrical outages (2023 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N5
64.2% (2023 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN1,N6
Export rules: Yes
- Regulator
- BERA
- Main utility
- Botswana Power Corporation (BPC)
Export rulesRooftop Solar Programme (net metering) since Nov 2020 under Department of Energy guidelines; revised 2026.5–7High confidenceShow detail
Rooftop Solar (RTS) Programme guidelines adopted by the Department of Energy. The net-metering scheme launched Nov 2020 (applications opened 30 Nov 2020). Guidelines were revised in 2026 and the programme is in force
How exports are creditedExports credited to the next BPC bill; rate not published on pages reviewed.5–7Medium confidenceShow detail
Exported surplus is credited to the customer's next BPC bill. The rate was not stated on the pages read
Size limits and licensingDomestic up to 35 kW; C&I up to 1 MW; sized at ≤110% of prior-year use. Aggregate cap raised to 75 MW (2026, one source).5–7Medium confidenceShow detail
Domestic customers up to 35 kW and C&I up to 1 MW, with sizing ≤110% of the previous 12 months' consumption. The 2020 programme cap was 10 MW (2 MW domestic, 8 MW C&I). The 2026 revision lifted the aggregate cap to 75 MW (from 50 MW). Permits run 15 years
Mini-grid rulesNone found5–7Low confidenceShow detail
None found
Market access beyond the utilityIPPs allowed since 2007 (own use or sale to BPC); no open-access or wheeling rule found.5–7Medium confidenceShow detail
The 2007 Electricity Supply Act amendment allowed IPPs, which may generate for own use or sell to BPC. No open-access or wheeling rule was found
Aggregation / VPP rulesNone foundMedium confidenceShow detail
None found
“None found” means we could not locate a rule in public sources reviewed to 10 October 2026, not that one cannot exist.
Recent developments
Dated developments, 2024–2026.
The full report
This is a snapshot. The full story is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
The full analysis, with 17 exhibits on the boom, the data gap, the economics and the four building blocks, is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
