NRS 097-2-1 Approved Inverters for South African Solar Installations

Key Takeaways

• All new grid-tied solar PV and battery systems in the City of Cape Town must use City-approved inverters and be authorised before switching on.
• NRS 097-2-1 compliance ensures safety for residents and municipal workers, and maintains grid integrity, particularly through anti-islanding.
• Inverter approvals have expiry dates; always check the "Certificate valid until" column on the City of Cape Town's list.
• The City of Cape Town's approved inverter list is not a national register; always verify requirements with your local municipality.

Why Inverter Approval Matters for South African Solar

For any grid-tied solar PV or battery system in South Africa, the inverter you choose must meet specific national standards to ensure safety and grid stability. In the City of Cape Town, this means compliance with NRS 097-2-1, a standard that dictates how small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems connect to the electricity grid. Since 1 October 2023, all new solar PV and/or battery systems in the City's supply area are treated as grid-tied and "must use City-approved inverters, have professional sign-off, and be authorised before switching on."

Understanding NRS 097-2-1 Compliance

NRS 097-2-1 is a critical standard because it addresses the safety of both residents and municipal workers, and helps to maintain the integrity of the electricity grid. A key requirement is anti-islanding functionality, which means "when the network goes down, the inverter disconnects and does not feed electricity onto the grid." This prevents dangerous situations where a grid believed to be off could still be live due to back-feeding from solar installations.

The City of Cape Town reviews the certification and test reports of inverters to verify their compliance with NRS 097-2-1. Systems using non-approved inverters "will not be authorised." Furthermore, "non-compliant SSEG systems could electrocute City personnel if electricity feeds into a grid that is believed to be off. Poorly installed systems can also cause household fires and insurers may not cover damages if the installation is not authorised." The property owner "carries the responsibility for the safety of the electrical installation on the property" under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Checking the City of Cape Town's Approved Inverter List

The City of Cape Town publishes a list of "TYPE TESTED INVERTERS/EQUIPMENT IN TERMS OF NRS 097-2-1" on its website. This list, updated as of 2026/06/10, includes various makes and models of inverters that have undergone type testing. When checking for an inverter, it is crucial to note the "Certificate valid until" date, as approvals can expire.

Here are examples of inverter models found on the City of Cape Town's approved list:

Brands such as Sunsynk, Huawei, Fronius, SMA, Victron, SolarEdge, and Luxpower also typically appear on such lists, reflecting their widespread use and compliance with relevant standards.

Installer Competence and the PV GreenCard

Beyond inverter approval, the competence of your installer is equally important. The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) endorses the PV GreenCard Programme, an "industry led quality assurance, skills development and small business support initiative." This programme aims to "improve installation quality standards and compliance in line with local and international best practice."

A certified PV GreenCard installation company issues an "as-built report" to the system owner upon completion, which serves as a "supplementary document to the electrical certificate of compliance (COC)." These companies "must be registered electrical contractors, employ a registered installation electrician or master installation electrician as well as an assessed PV GreenCard individual" and commit to "adhere to national installation standards and regulations as well as industry best practices." The City of Cape Town "recommends that the PV service provider is an accredited service provider under a third party quality assurance programme such as: PV Green Card."

What you can check yourself, and what you cannot

As a property owner, you can check the City of Cape Town's online list to verify if a specific inverter model is approved and if its certificate is still valid. You can also ask your prospective installer if they are a certified PV GreenCard company and request to see their credentials.

However, the actual installation, commissioning, and sign-off of a solar PV system must be performed by qualified professionals. A "suitably qualified electrician must issue the Certificate of Compliance for any electrical installation, this includes the AC rewiring of the premises for solar PV and/or battery installations." For larger systems, "an ECSA-registered professional must commission and sign off the commissioning report via the online application platform." These steps are legally required and ensure the safety and legality of your installation.

If you are installing batteries, ensure they are "stored in a properly racked, well ventilated, dry room, in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, Act 85 of 1993."

What the published sources do not tell you

It is important to understand that the City of Cape Town's "Approved Photovoltaic (PV) Inverter List" is explicitly a "City of Cape Town" document and applies only to properties "within the City of Cape Town electricity supply area." It is not a national register. Other municipalities in South Africa may have their own specific requirements and approved lists, and you must consult your local authority for their regulations.

While the inverter list provides a "Certificate valid until" column, no source we could reach publishes the general process or requirements for certificate renewal for inverters or for PV GreenCard installer certifications. Always ensure that both your inverter's approval and your installer's certifications are current at the time of installation.