THE SWITCH TO SOLAR POWER

As the electricity crisis deepens, more South Africans are turning to systems that convert energy from the sun. Here’s everything you need to know, from costs and savings to finding a provider  

- NASIFA SULAIMAN

CONVENTIONAL wisdom says it’s wrong to covet your neighbour’s possessions, but you’d be forgiven for being green with envy if you looked out your window and saw their lights blazing while you wal lowed in the dark. 

The reality is more and more South Africans are turning to solar power to escape the awfulness of loadshedding. And now there are even more incentives for consumers to install solar-power systems at home. 

Finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced in his latest budget that homeowners who install rooftop solar panels can claim a tax rebate of 25% of the cost – up to a maximum of R15 000 – from 1 March. And the City of Cape Town will soon be buying excess energy from ordinary citizens. 

But solar power doesn’t come cheap and there are many factors to take into account. Considering installing it in your home? We answer all your burning questions. 

WHAT DO I NEED AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? 

Solar panels: These convert sunlight into electricity, which is known as photovoltaic (PV) energy. The more energy you need, the more panels you’ll have to buy. It’s R2 500 for a 345W Monocrystalline Solar Panel and R4 500 for a 540W Monocrystalline Solar Panel. 

Inverter: This is the device that converts the direct current (DC) power generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) power used in your home. If you want to still draw power from the grid and use solar as a backup you’ll need a hybrid inverter, which can cost R12 000 or more. A basic off-grid inverter costs about R 6 000.