SOUTHERN Africa is popularly associated with sunshine. Does that make the region exceptionally suited to solar energy generation? HARTMUT WINKLER, Professor of Physics, University of Johannesburg With electricity shortages plaguing all parts of the sub-continent, a plentiful energy source that is becoming increasingly affordable to tap into seems like an ideal solution. Yet the rollout of solar power generating facilities has been very slow in the region. Most solar power developments in the sub-continent have been in South Africa. But even in the country, solar farms account for only 2.5% of the total electricity generated. Compare that to some European…