Country snapshot · Southern Africa
Lesotho
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 | 1.3 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 0.3 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 0.9 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 37.1 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.2% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (37.1 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 | 41.4% | 2024 |
| Urban | 85.2% | 2024 |
| National | 60.6% | 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.3,4N6
64.6% (2023 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN2,N7
Export rules: Partial
- Regulator
- LEWA
- Main utility
- Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC, single buyer)
Export rulesSources conflict: net metering under 500 kW is foreseen but regulations 'not yet in place' (GET.invest); a law firm refers to net-billing rules without detail.5,6Low confidenceShow detail
Sources conflict. GET.invest (2026, sources accessed Sep 2025) says national regulation foresees a net-metering scheme under 500 kW but the regulations are "not yet in place". Afriwise (Jun 2026) refers to LEWA "distributed generation and net-billing rules" without any detail. No rule text was found
How exports are creditedNone foundLow confidenceShow detail
None found
Size limits and licensingLicensed renewable generators under 500 kW may connect at distribution level.5,6Medium confidenceShow detail
Licensed renewable generators under 500 kW may connect at distribution level. C&I self-generators need no generation licence. Statutory exemptions exist for some small generation (no kW figure given)
Mini-grid rulesMini-Grid Regulations 2021 (systems under 2 MW); under review.7High confidenceShow detail
Mini-Grid Power Generation, Distribution and Supply Regulations, 2021 (tabled 16 Feb 2021, covering systems under 2 MW). These are under review with GET.Transform
Market access beyond the utilitySingle buyer (LEC); IPP PPAs negotiated bilaterally; no open access.7Medium confidenceShow detail
Single buyer (LEC). IPP PPAs are negotiated bilaterally with LEC and approved by LEWA. Only one PPA has been signed. The 2015 RE regulatory framework was never gazetted. No open access 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.
