SME ENERGY SOLUTIONS
What Is Ampli Energy?
Ampli Energy is a renewable energy product for South African small businesses, launched in May 2025 as a collaboration between Sasol and Discovery Green. It is the only entry point onto the Discovery Green renewable energy platform that does not require the standard commercial wheeling threshold. Where Discovery Green's direct wheeling products are built around businesses at 1MW of demand and above, Ampli Energy aggregates demand from much smaller users and pools it up to that threshold.
The product is positioned as month-to-month renewable energy for small consumers - an unusual and refreshing addition to a market where most contracts run 5 to 20 years. Ampli sidesteps the long-form commitment that excludes most small businesses, NGOs, franchisees, contractors, and supplier-network participants from the renewable energy transition.
BUILT FOR SMES
Who is Ampli Energy built for
Ampli Energy is designed for small businesses, NGOs, and independent operators who fall below the demand threshold required for standard commercial wheeling.
FOUR STEPS
How Ampli Energy works
Four phases take a small business from sign-up to renewable supply, designed around small-business operating reality rather than corporate procurement timelines.
Reserve a spot on the Ampli Platform
Small businesses register interest through the Ampli platform at joinampli.co.za.
Renewable supply begins
Once the small business is onboarded, renewable supply is allocated against its consumption on a month-to-month basis rather than a 5 to 20 year contract.
Sasol and Discovery Green aggregate the demand
Individual small-business demand is pooled at platform level. Sasol provides the scale and the supply-aggregation infrastructure.
Reporting and stepping up to direct wheeling
Ampli provides reporting evidence the small business can use for funder, donor, or larger customer disclosures.
OUR SOLUTION
Tailored energy solutions for your business
OUR PACKAGES
Ampli Energy pricing and where it sits against standard wheeling
For small businesses
Ampli Energy
Month-to-month renewable energy product. No 12-month interval data needed at sign-up. No multi-year contract. Pooled demand aggregation through Sasol and Discovery Green. Designed for SMMEs, NGOs, franchisees, and small suppliers.
For 1MW+ demand
Green Flex / Saver / Guarantee
Direct wheeling contracts. 5 to 20 year terms. CPI-locked pricing on generation costs. Customised proposal based on 12 months of interval data, delivered in 10 business days. Three coverage levels: 30%, 90%, or 100%.
WHY IT WORKS
What SMEs get with Discovery Green
Month-to-month renewable energy access
Standard commercial wheeling contracts run for 5 to 20 years. Most small businesses cannot or will not commit on those timelines. Ampli was launched as a market-first month-to-month renewable energy product specifically to bypass that exclusion.
Demand pooled where direct wheeling demands scale
Direct wheeling needs 1MW of demand or 500kW with demand pooling arrangements. A typical small business sits well below that. Sasol and Discovery Green pool the small-business demand at platform level, so the small operator gets the same supply portfolio access without having to negotiate the contract on its own.
Designed explicitly for SMMEs and NGOs
Embedded solar pricing breaks down for many small businesses without sufficient roof space or capital. Direct wheeling locks them out on scale. Ampli is the only product on the Discovery Green platform designed explicitly for businesses traditionally excluded from wheeling, including SMMEs and NGOs.
THE ECOSYSTEM
Where Ampli sits in the Discovery Green range
Ampli is the entry point. The other three products serve businesses at 1MW+ demand on direct wheeling contracts.
Green Saver (90%, 70% min)
Replace ~90% of electricity with renewables at the highest cost saving.
Green Guarantee (100%, up to 110%)
100% renewable coverage with audit-ready Scope 2 documentation for CBAM compliance.
Ampli Energy (Demand Pooling)
Aggregates demand so smaller supply-chain operations can access wheeling
RESOURCES
SME Energy Resource Centre
Press Release
Ampli Energy by Discovery Green and Sasol
Ampli Energy, a market-first renewable energy product from Discovery Green in partnership with Sasol, represents a sea change in South Africa's energy market.
Insight
Market shifts are shaping renewable energy
Andre Nepgen shares how 2026 was a turning point for renewable energy in South Africa.
Case Studies
Case Studies
In the Business of Green, Ray White looks at how local energy players and businesses are setting the course for our renewable energy future.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What people ask about Ampli
How can renewable energy reduce my business costs?
Renewable energy replaces expensive grid electricity with solar or wind power generated on or near the premises. SMEs typically save between 20-40% on electricity costs. Savings are locked in through long-term contracts with CPI-linked escalation, shielding the business from the CPI+5% trajectory of Eskom tariffs.
What renewable energy options are available for SMEs?
SMEs can access rooftop solar PV systems, small-scale wind turbines, and battery storage solutions. Ampli Energy assesses the premises, energy profile, and budget to recommend the optimal combination - whether a standalone solar installation, hybrid solar and storage, or a full renewable energy suite.
Is my business eligible for government incentives?
Most SMEs qualify for South Africa's Section 12B tax incentive, which allows a 125% deduction on qualifying renewable energy investments in the first year. Ampli Energy advises on eligibility and helps structure the investment to maximise tax benefits and rebates.
What happens during load shedding with renewable energy?
With Ampli Energy's battery storage solutions, the business continues operating during load shedding. Excess solar energy generated during the day is stored in batteries and discharged automatically when the grid goes down, keeping critical systems running without interruption.
How long does installation take for an SME?
A typical SME solar installation takes 2-5 days on-site after design and approval. From the first free assessment to a commissioned system, the process generally takes 6-10 weeks. Ampli Energy manages all permitting, approvals, and grid connection applications on the business's behalf.
What is the return on investment for SME solar?
Most SME solar installations achieve payback within 3-6 years, with systems designed to operate for 25+ years. With Section 12B tax incentives applied, ROI timelines can be significantly shorter. Ampli Energy provides detailed financial projections for every proposal.
Reserve your spot on Ampli Energy
Month-to-month renewable energy for small businesses. No 12-month interval data needed. No multi-year lock-in.
Reserve a spot through the Ampli sign-up flow.
Step 2
Confirm onboarding details, billing integration with the existing utility account, and product terms.
Step 3
Renewable supply is allocated against monthly consumption from the Discovery Green portfolio.
Disclaimer
Ampli Energy is a collaboration between Sasol and Discovery Green, a division of Discovery Limited (Registration number 1999/007789/06). Information provided is for general educational purposes and does not constitute financial, engineering, legal, or tax advice. Individual results may vary depending on consumption patterns, business size, site eligibility, regulatory conditions, and generation availability. Product terms, conditions and qualification criteria apply.
Discovery Limited and its subsidiaries are authorised financial services providers where applicable.