Off or ON?

Off-grid is an increasingly popular and hasslefree option as alternative energy sources become easier to access. By Nia Magoulianiti-McGregor

- Nia Magoulianiti-McGregor

Going off the grid is becoming a popular option as South Africans grapple with continued -power outages and the desire to have more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyles.

However, Treetops Renewable Energy Systems' Stefan Ortmann says that going off the grid G completely is an "unnecessary expense" even as solar power is highly viable in our climate. "Partially going off the grid will give you 'sunny day autonomy"," says Ortmann. He says this means installing a system that will give you sufficient solar power during sunny days without going to the expense of installing a hugely pricey system to keep going after a few cloudy days. "In a 24-hour cycle, many of our clients - say a family of four - would typically use about 20 units of energy. To be grid throughout the year means having a huge system able to contain surplus solar and battery capacity. It's not worth it unless there is a huge budget to match."

SUNNY DAZE

But even going partly off the grid means outlay costs. Ortmann maintains it's worth it. "Besides being green-conscious and having energy during load shedding, your monthly electricity costs will drop - and you'll break even in a few years. From then on, the sun doesn't charge you."

Sampie Marais of Reviron, a company specialising in solar power, says the payoff period varies. "You're looking at between four and a half years and seven and a half years with heavy users getting a bigger advantage in a shorter period."