Demand for rooftop solar installations plummets

Daniel Puchert

Daniel Puchert

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Solar power slump in South Africa

Demand for rooftop solar installations has plummeted over the past three months due to the extended reprieve from load-shedding South Africans have experienced since early 2024, SABC News reports.

Citing the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), it said the frequency and intensity of load-shedding and access to finance are the primary drivers behind residents installing rooftop solar systems.
 
Saw Leroy Merlin selling jinko 555w panels for 1.7k ..

Fsck I feel i should just buy 8 more panels and 1 more battery , and I will never need to use Eskom but maybe a few times a month.

Just spent 2.8k for 720kwh of prepaid electricty. This will tide me over for about 2 months.
 
Yep definitely a grudge purchase, shows how quickly people forget stage 6...
 
I called around for replacement costs of my 100% off-grid system this past week. Had to give these values to my insurance company. I am pleasantly surprised at how prices have actually decreased.
 
TedLasso said:
Saw Leroy Merlin selling jinko 555w panels for 1.7k ..

Fsck I feel i should just buy 8 more panels and 1 more battery , and I will never need to use Eskom but maybe a few times a month.

Just spent 2.8k for 720kwh of prepaid electricty. This will tide me over for about 2 months.
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Why didn't you just buy it in separate months? As buying it like that means you've gone over to the highest tier
 
Lupus said:
Why didn't you just buy it in separate months? As buying it like that means you've gone over to the highest tier
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Yeah, actually that's a good point .

Normally with prepaid , it's the units after 600 per month that start costing dear. I used to try to buy just over 600 a month when I didn't have an inverter , to keep the spare units for winter. It used to work a treat as my util in summer months wasn't anywhere near 600 units.

I am Eskom supplied , so have been paying the increased fees since April and now I buy when the prepaid meter beeps.

Service fees are adding up though.

Of the 2.7k purchase, around 800 was service fee or whatever they call it. It was my first purchase in 60 days.

I should just buy about 300 units a month now.
 
It's only a matter of time until Eskom unit increases cause people to look at solar more again.

Part of the current slump is partly due to no load shedding, but also due to it being winter. Not so exciting to get solar now. I mean it still works. My system is still generating 5-10 units most days for me, and several of those last me well into the night thanks to the battery. And it saves me good money. Even so. In Summer a brand spanking new solar installation just has more appeal.

But yeah. Add another R1-R2 to the elec price... Coal power won't be getting any cheaper. Unlike solar systems.
 
Solar panels are actually more efficient in winter months. Assuming angle and direction are correct of course.
 
BBSA said:
Maybe, but you getting less sun hours in winter.
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This, I still can get roughly 16 to 17kWh in winter though, in summer on a good sunny day it was 22 to 24kWh no problem
 
Velskoen said:
Solar panels are actually more efficient in winter months. Assuming angle and direction are correct of course.
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My East / West panels aren’t doing much in winter with the lower sun angle plus less hours.
 
Daniel Puchert said:
Solar power slump in South Africa

Loadshedding has plummeted over the past three months due to the extended reprieve from rooftop solar installations in South Africa since early 2023, SABC News reports.

Citing the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), it said residents installing rooftop solar systems is the primary driver behind the reduced frequency and intensity of load-shedding.
Click to expand...

FTFY
 
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