South Africa’s Eskom considers electricity discount for Bitcoin miners as solar power generates surplus
South Africa’s electricity utility Eskom is considering a plan to sell excess daytime electricity to Bitcoin mining companies as rooftop solar power installations reduce demand on the grid during the day.
Speaking at the BizNews Conference 2026 in Hermanus, Eskom Chairman Mutet Nyati said the utility was looking at ways to monetize surplus electricity generated during the day, according to local reports.
In South Africa, the rapid adoption of rooftop solar systems is beginning to reshape the country’s electricity demand profile. Many homes and businesses now generate their own electricity during daylight hours, leaving Eskom with unused electricity once the solar panels start generating electricity.
Mr Nyati said this pattern was becoming increasingly predictable.
Demand spikes in the early morning hours as families prepare for work and businesses open. As solar power increases later in the day, demand on the grid decreases, leaving Eskom with surplus power.
Eskom is looking at creative ways and means to leverage its capabilities. One option being considered is providing discounted electricity to Bitcoin mining companies operating in South Africa. This division operates large data centers that perform energy-intensive calculations to secure the Bitcoin network.
Nyati said industries such as Bitcoin mining are contributing to the increase in global electricity demand. He said this technology did not exist 20 years ago, but is now a source of increased power consumption.
By selling surplus electricity to miners, Eskom could potentially generate revenue from electricity that would otherwise go unused during peak solar production times.
Bitcoin mining opportunities in South Africa
The idea also builds on earlier comments from Eskom CEO Dan Malokane, who said the state-owned power company was considering opportunities related to bitcoin mining, artificial intelligence infrastructure and large data centres.
These sectors require large-scale, continuous power supplies and may place new demands on Eskom’s power generation facilities.
Mr Nyati positioned the initiative as part of a broader strategy to adapt to structural changes in South Africa’s electricity market.
The country’s power sector is open to private investment, allowing independent companies to build generation capacity and compete in power distribution. At the same time, increased deployment of rooftop solar power is moving demand away from the national grid.
Nyati said Eskom must adapt to survive in a more competitive environment.
Alongside the new revenue strategy, Eskom is pursuing cost reductions. Nyati said the utility plans to cut costs by about R112 billion over the next five years.
Reducing these costs could lead to lower electricity bills for households and energy-intensive industries such as mining and smelting.
Despite the changing energy landscape, Mr Nyati said South Africa still needed a strong national utility.
He maintained that Eskom’s coal and nuclear power stations provide the baseload electricity needed to support industrial growth and economic development.
The proposal to provide discounted power to Bitcoin miners reflects how power companies are beginning to treat flexible energy consumers as a tool to balance supply and demand in an evolving electricity system.
The post South Africa’s Eskom considers discounted electricity for Bitcoin miners as it generates surplus from solar power was first published in Bitcoin Magazine and written by Micah Zimmerman.
