Beast Mtawarira unveils AI innovation

Springbok icon Beast unveils AI innovation

In a groundbreaking leap forward in solar technology, Springbok Beast Mtawarira has announced the introduction of an artificial intelligence feature in solar energy locally.

Springbok Tendai Beast Mtawarira and Ikenna Oguguo. Image: Supplied.

Rugby legend Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira has unveiled Wetility’s, South Africa’s fastest-growing solar-as-a-service provider, most advanced innovation to date: AI Mode.

This groundbreaking feature represents a major leap forward in solar technology, setting a new benchmark for intelligent, customer-centric energy management. AI Mode empowers thousands of Wetility customers to increase their electricity savings from an average of up to 65% to an average of up to 90% — all with the simple click of a button.

“This kind of innovation is exactly why I chose to back Wetility: They are building for the future —technologies like AI Mode aren’t just smart, they’re life-changing. This is about energy freedom for South Africans, and I’m proud to be part of that journey,” says Mtawarira.

Indeed, Wetility’s AI Mode is a market-first, solving South Africa’s twin challenges of rising electricity tariffs and inconsistent power supply.

Using advanced predictive algorithms, AI Mode removes the mental burden from customers managing their energy systems within South Africa’s volatile electricity landscape. AI Mode integrates minute-by-minute real-time data, physics-based predictive solar modelling, and unique personalized customer consumption insights. In practice this means AI Mode processes millions of data points, including real-time data on power usage, historical preferences, current and upcoming weather patterns, and the size of the solar system.

Smoothly making data-driven decisions faster than a person could, AI Mode is the simplest and most informed way to charge and discharge the battery. This performance breakthrough ensures optimal solar usage and backup readiness, making the system much more capable than before. Despite the technological advancement, the customer experience is intuitive and easy to use. Accessible via the Wetility App, customers can monitor, control, and predict their solar system performance on one integrated platform.

AI Mode delivers exceptional financial value—saving users with electricity bills of R2 000 per month upwards of R21 000 per year. Beta testing results with over 300 households showed aggressive increases in electricity bill savings for Wetility customers. For instance, one customer’s solar usage rose to a groundbreaking 90.99% within two days of switching to AI Mode.

Wetility’s breakthrough in intelligent energy management has been in development and Alpha testing for over 15 months.

AI Mode unlocks the next step in Wetility’s mission to make sustainable energy independence available to everyone. With AI Mode, Wetility adds solar supply optimization, whilst previous steps to maximize electricity bill savings focused on reducing demand.

Specifically, in 2023 Wetility included a smart geyser control and surge protection in its Beast Bundle – South Africa’s first all-in-one solar bundle – to tackle demand-side inefficiencies.

Mtawarira shares his excitement about the innovation: “It’s been incredible to see the Beast Bundle—something that carries my name—grow into an even more powerful solution for South Africans. What started as an all-in-one solar package is now becoming smarter, more sophisticated, and more impactful with AI Mode. This isn’t just about solar—it’s about building real independence for our people.”

With only around 10% of South Africa’s 20 million households currently using solar, Wetility believes innovations like AI Mode will drive mass adoption by delivering near-instant savings.

Wetility continues its investment in advanced R&D to unlock smarter, more inclusive energysolutions. Developed entirely in-house, AI Mode marks a pivotal step toward a future where solar not only powers homes—but pays them back.