Escaping the Eskom energy crisis: Part 1 of our Beginners Guide to Solar. The Hybrid Approach.

Load shedding is here to stay, and South African homeowners are starting to realise that there is no short-term fix to the increased stages of power cuts. While we have enough power during the night and mostly enough to see us through the day, the major issue facing our embattled power grid is morning and evening peaks.

With our energy grid in a constant state of influx, homeowners are moving towards seeking alternate sources of energy. Fed up with an unreliable utility, solar and wind are hot and trending topics. But beyond high upfront costs, choosing the right system for your home can be an enormous project.

We chat with David Elliot, Managing Director of Pro IT Services, to get a deeper insight into solar installations while challenging a few myths surrounding going off the grid.
 

Where do you start? 

The first and most important thing you need to understand is that every household requires a unique set-up that caters to your daily demands. To measure the system your home requires, the first thing you need to look at is your electricity bill. This will allow solar installers to work out your daily usage and month-to-month demand.

You also need to consider off-peak and on-peak times, such as the winter months when we generally consume more. One of the myths around solar is that you can go completely off the grid. And while it's true that a fully kitted system will cover at least 95% of your consumption, there is still that 5% required to recharge your backup system.
 

Understanding the amount of energy that needs to be stored

Backup battery systems are essential to store built-up solar energy. Homeowners need to remember that during a 24-hour day, solar energy is only produced during the 6 - 8 hours when the sun is at its highest. For the remaining 16 - 18  hours, your battery backup provides you with the rest of the energy you use.

This is also provided that cloud cover is not significant. During overcast or rainy days, your home's solar build is at a maximum of 50% capacity which means without adequate backup systems; you'll be running out of power fast. 
 

How to calculate:

Here is a simple calculation to ensure your system covers your home adequately:

The average home consumes 20 - 50 kilowatts daily; your utility bill will help you work out your monthly usage, which you can divide by 30. 

10 solar panels produce 545 watts per hour per panel. That translates to 5.45 kilowatts an hour. You'll then multiply that by 6.5 (the lowest amount of hours to produce energy a day) to determine how much you're producing vs how much you're consuming.

Many mobile apps are available that work with various battery and inverter brands to assist you in tracking these statistics and monitoring your daily household usage. The most popular app is produced by ICC, and allows you to track usage while also working out the reduction in your home's utility costs. Separate software will be required for monitoring storage and solar panels, specifically.
 

Understanding the Hybrid System

Most systems are upgradeable, so one doesn't need to install a full system all at once. Homeowners have the option to upgrade their system at any time, provided they stick to the same brand.

The average hybrid system combining batteries, inverters and solar may cost you anywhere between R80,000 to R350,000 depending, once again, on your home, power usage, and access to sunlight.

There are also a few choice brands for battery storage on the market. Entry-level brands such as Expert are pretty popular and reliable, while higher-end installations for professional setups utilise the Victron Power brand. Other brands, such as Sunsynk, can supply power back to sections that do not have backup power thanks to a functionality which allows them to switch the load powered by the inverter with excess solar power.
 

Load testing

Load tests are essential exercises to ensure that additional appliances on the system do not overload your inverter. All inverters are designed to trip off should an overload occur. Inverters should also be as close to the DB board as possible to ensure the most efficient supply. Most professionals will likely install them in your garage.

Where to place the panels in residential areas, and are they at high risk for theft?

Credible installers will generally place panels in a north-facing position to ensure maximum exposure. What's more, solar panels are not at high risk of theft. They are bolted down, and thieves need tools to pry them off the roof.

Insurance and Compliance

Solar installations require COC Compliance for insurance purposes and due to property law. These are major installations in the home, and much like plans require plans to be approved, a qualified third-party electrician will need to sign off all installations.

Can you take your system with you when you sell your home?

The good news is that once you've made your upfront investment, moving doesn't require installing from scratch. Solar systems are fully integrable within your new home, providing you make adjustments to your new usage requirements.

You may need a few extra panels to cover a move.

Alternatively, homeowners can also take advantage of a solar installation, especially during our current electricity climate, and mark their listing price accordingly to see a return on investment. Homes with solar do exceptionally well on the market.

For more information regarding solar installations in your home, consider visiting Pro IT Services for a professional and reliable solar build breakdown. 
Email: david@proitservices.co.za

If you want to buy or sell your home, contact one of our Real Estate Property Practitioners by following the link: https://www.homesofdistinction.co.za/agents/

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