Did you know that installing a solar panel system is one of the best and most affordable ways to power your home in Monument Park?
In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about the cost and benefit of installing solar panels, inverters, back up batteries and overall solar energy systems for homeowners in Monument Park.
We will talk about the different types of solar panels, solar inverters, and solar batteries available on the market, the pricing of the solar products and how solar systems will benefit the Monument Park homeowner from day 1.
We will also discuss all the costs of solar systems and how much money can be saved using sun power vs the dreaded Eishkom.
Of course we will also cover load shedding… Sometimes it’s not just about how many panels, installation costs or your electric bill…
It’s about your energy needs, monthly usage and having enough power for any basic or excess electricity needs ALL the time!
So whether you are just starting out on your renewable energy journey or looking for an upgrade, read on for everything you need to know about installing a solar energy system in your home!
There are many reasons why homeowners in Monument Park should install solar panel systems.
For one, a solar power system can help reduce your electricity bills by offsetting the cost of your traditional electricity usage from Eskom with a free energy source in the sky… the sun!
Using roof solar panels, that energy is converted into 12V electricity and then turned into 220V electricity by using an inverter.
That power is then fed back to the home and replaces the power usually provided by Eskom, reducing the homes energy costs.
Excess power can also be stored in battery storage systems for use at night when the sun is not available.
Additionally, a residential solar power system will add value to your home, making it more attractive to potential buyers should you ever decide to sell.
Furthermore, solar panels can help to reduce your carbon footprint and do your part to protect the environment.
With so many benefits, there is no reason not to switch to solar power, especially when we look at the cost per kW from solar vs the cost per kW from Eskom (we will look at that a little later). Changes are that you will save money on your energy bill from day 1.
A solar power system consists of a few major components, depending on what type of system you will need.
A grid-tied solar system solution allows for power from the sun and from Eskom. These systems might or might not include backup battery solutions.
An off-grid system power a property solely from the sun with no link to Eskom. These systems will have significant battery backup solutions, usually in the form of Lithium-Ion Batteries.
For the purpose of this blog post, we will look at a grid-tied solar panel energy solution with a battery backup in place.
Monocrystalline solar panels cost a little more than polycrystalline, but are more effective in converting sun energy into electricity.
Although polycrystalline solar panels are still available in Monument Park, the most common panels installed at the moment are monocrystalline solar panels, as the benefit outweighs the cost of the solar panels by quite a big margin.
Well, that will depend on the size of the solar panel you will be installing vs. your home’s power usage. The most popular panels at the moment are:
On average, the retail Cost for Solar Panels (quality monocrystalline solar panels) in RSA ranges from R9 to R11-50 per Watt, including VAT, but excluding the cost to install solar panels.
Remember that this is the average cost of solar panels and the cost to install solar panels will be quoted as an additional cost by a solar panel installer.
Shop around to get the best price for your solar panel installation, but also ensure you purchase your solar panels from an approved solar seller or installer. Solar panels are electronic products and you want to ensure you have a backup in case an of the solar panels are defective.
Inverter
Solar investors convert the 12V power into usually 220V power for Monument Park homes.
As in the case of solar panels, pricing varies around the size of the inverter BUT is also hugely affected by the quality (or brand) of the inverter that is purchased.
Inverter technology has come a long way in the last few years and our advice is ALWAYS to pay more for your inverter and get a quality product with a proper long-term warranty.
Inverters come in quite a few sizes, but the most popular inverter sizes range from 5 kW to 15kW inverters, indicating the maximum amount of kW the inverter can manage.
The size inverter system that you will need will depend on your home’s maximum kW usage at any one point. It’s not as easy as dividing your home’s total electricity usage for the month in the number of days of the month.
Solar installers with a good track record will usually install an electricity meter in your home for about 2 weeks to track your typical electricity consumption.
Battery Backup Power
Different types of batteries are used in a solar system for stored energy.
Lead-acid batteries: The technology in these batteries is quite outdated in a modern-day solar system and should be avoided. It’s the cheapest option of the 3 batteries, but not very efficient in storing energy.
Deep cycle batteries: Still quite popular due to the initial investment in batteries, but you have to keep in mind that these batteries do not last more than +-4 years and storage capacity will diminish quite quickly over time.
Litium Ion batteries: Lithium Ion backup batteries for a solar power system is the standard in Monument Park t the moment. It is the most expensive choice of battery, but will last in excess of 10 years (sometimes over 20 years) and does not lose storage capacity at the same rate as Deep cycle batteries.
The size of the battery will once again depend on the size of your solar power installation, your electricity consumption and the usable electricity needed while the sun is not shining.
Popular battery sizes are: 5 kWh, 10kWh and 14kWh
Install Solar Panels – Yes or No?
With the amazing weather we have in this country, installing a solar panel system is a no-brainer decision.
As discussed, the size of solar installation you will need is entirely up to your unique requirements. You can start by providing solar installers with your:
A Final Word On Your Solar Panel System
Unfortunately, we do not have any solar tax credits in Monument Park anymore, but the growth in our solar market will ensure you can get quotes from trusted solar panel installers that have solar reviews of happy clients to help you make the right decision.
Solar panels save money and getting solar panels installed will save on electricity costs.
On average solar cost kW from a quality solar installation calculated over a 10-year period (the absolute minimum lifetime of a solar power system) is lower than Eskom’s national average cost per kW of electricity.
Keep in mind that this is calculated at the CURRENT costs from Eskom… and we know this increases at a ridiculous rate yearly.
Your solar panel system will be a long-term investment in your property and finances.
With solar panel prices and the prices of inverters and backup batteries becoming affordable for everyone, you can look forward to the cost of solar not only saving you money on your electric bill, but also on an overall cost that includes energy reliability in every home.
If you are in the market for a quality solar panel installation from an approved solar installer, you can get a free quote today by clicking here
The biggest disadvantage of Solar for South Africans is the initial capital outlay needed to get the Solar PV installation done. This can easily be solved by leveraging a personal loan or a access bond.
YES! Solar is now officially cheaper per Kw than power purchased from Eskom and with the correct finance options, South Africans can save on their electricity bill from Day 1!
Although the capacity of solar systems is easily provided, the size of a Solar PV system for homeowners is hugely reliant on peak usage in a home. The best way to know the exact size of the solar system needed for South Africans is to get a free quote from one of our accredited solar installers. Click here to get a quote
Yes definitely! South African homeowners can decide between a grid-tied (Eskom as backup) or off-grid (no Eskom backup) solar PV system for their homes. This will affect the cost of your solar system with grid-tied solar systems costing less than a full off-grid solar system.
Most solar installations in South Africa come with a 15-20 year warranty. As in any industry, this will depend on the type of Solar Panels and Solar Batteries. Feel free to grab a free Solar Quote here and discuss the warranties and expected life of the product with our approved solar PV installers.
Calculating the cost of solar in South Africa can only be done accurately by monitoring a home or business electricity usage over a period of time. A big factor in calculating the size of a Solar system (and the cost of the Solar system) is the peak usage of a home or business. To get an accurate cost for Solar System for your home or business, click here…
This all depends on the size & type of battery of your solar installation and the usage of your home or business. A proper solar installation should ensure that you have enough battery backup to run your home or business throughout the night even if you have a few cloudy days. The great thing about Solar PV installations is that you can always add batteries, solar panels and inverters to increase the capacity of your solar system
Solar panels are designed for almost zero maintenance BUT something to keep in mind is that clean solar panels are a lot more effective than dirty solar panels. Ask your installers about tools (or even a service) for checking and cleaning your panels regularly. This can only increase the life of your Solar PV Installation.
As of July 2020, the population of Pretoria is over 2.5 million people. It is the 4th most populus city in South Africa (after Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban). The city covers a total area of 687 square kilometers (265 square miles). The average altitude is 1,339 metres (4,393 feet) above sea level.. Source Wikipedia
