Solar as a service (rental)

hellfire

hellfire

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I've signed up with GoSolr and paid the deposit.
Awaiting an installation date.

My goal with this is primarily to reduce the impact of load shedding, but also as a bonus to reduce some grid consumption and perhaps recoup the cost of the rental in electricity savings. I don't have an interest in going off grid.
In 36 months, if there are better options on the market for solar rental or I change my mind about going off-grid, then I pay GoSolr R10k to come fetch their equipment and I move on.

I have elected to go with the medium option (5kVA inverter) as this should be enough to run my fridges, some lights and an entertainment plug or 2 during loadshedding.
Then during the sunny days, I can charge the batteries and use excess to supplement my grid supply.

Anyone else using GoSolr (or similar) and have insights to share?
 
Sounds interesting! And sort of exciting.

Could you post more specs of the system you'll be getting? Inverter brand, panel number and sizes, batteries etc.
 
Nice! There's quite a few people that would be interested in hearing more.

I'm not one of them (have an existing install), but I'm turned off (when advising family) by the fact you a) never own it and b) the cost to buy it at the end of it's run is worth more than the system is worth.
 
I know people who have them and they're happy. Just the oven is out of action during loadshedding.

Personally I'd probably want 8 kVA and then not have to split the load, but I'm not sure GoSolr lets you customise plans like that.

I do have my reservations about the business model. (From the consumer perspective; I'm sure it's great to be a shareholder.) It seems a bit more complex than it needs to be, and I'd be sceptical of savings vs. a traditional loan.
 
The biggest problem I have with these solar rentals is that I've not yet come across an option where I'll be saving anything. It is always more expensive than my monthly usage, which is between R1000 and R15000 (very rarely).

If a solution such as this can't take me off grid completely then it always works out at least twice as expensive as what I'm currently paying, more often than not, 3x more expensive.

This is about the cheapest option I've seen advertised or discussed.
 
SykomantiS said:
The biggest problem I have with these solar rentals is that I've not yet come across an option where I'll be saving anything. It is always more expensive than my monthly usage, which is between R1000 and R15000 (very rarely).

If a solution such as this can't take me off grid completely then it always works out at least twice as expensive as what I'm currently paying, more often than not, 3x more expensive.

This is about the cheapest option I've seen advertised or discussed.
Click to expand...

Yep, the premium you pay over your normal bill is the cost of being loadshedding-proof.

If all you want is to be free of loadshedding, take that net cost and compare it to the alternatives.
 
Thanks for the info OP.
Good thread to follow.
I read you can elect to buy them out after 36 months.
Then you own the system and the monthly stops.
Does the contract mention a price ?
 
SykomantiS said:
The biggest problem I have with these solar rentals is that I've not yet come across an option where I'll be saving anything. It is always more expensive than my monthly usage, which is between R1000 and R15000 (very rarely).

If a solution such as this can't take me off grid completely then it always works out at least twice as expensive as what I'm currently paying, more often than not, 3x more expensive.

This is about the cheapest option I've seen advertised or discussed.
Click to expand...
These are made for convenience not savings.

The medium monthly costs the same as my system in 10 years.

My system is double the kw production, 8 instead of 5kv, and 4x the battery capacity also my whole house runs on it from the geyser to the oven stove etc.

Honestly wouldnt go with these rentals increased home loan makes sense this doesnt.
 
SykomantiS said:
The biggest problem I have with these solar rentals is that I've not yet come across an option where I'll be saving anything. It is always more expensive than my monthly usage, which is between R1000 and R15000 (very rarely).

If a solution such as this can't take me off grid completely then it always works out at least twice as expensive as what I'm currently paying, more often than not, 3x more expensive.

This is about the cheapest option I've seen advertised or discussed.
Click to expand...
This system can realistically deliver 20kWh per day, or 600kWh per month. At R1580 it's R2.63 per kWh which is at least as cheap as current municipal costs, with big escalations still coming up. And you're largely loadshedding free.
 
Good luck, interested to know how it goes. Please update with pics etc as they're busy installing and once they're done.

I personally wouldn't go this route and would rather the monthly repayment contribute towards you owning the asset in the end. The old buy vs rent a car argument.

But I suppose it's a good way to test the waters so you'll know exactly what you need in the end. An expensive way to do it though vs an energy audit. But good luck, any solar is better than no solar!
 
Speedster said:
This system can realistically deliver 20kWh per day, or 600kWh per month. At R1580 it's R2.63 per kWh which is at least as cheap as current municipal costs, with big escalations still coming up. And you're largely loadshedding free.
Click to expand...
BUT that assumes bulk of power is used during the day, that 5kw battery isnt going to take you far at night you gonna need to fine tune the system to ensure you have sufficient back up
 
the only thing i like about this is the maintainece they offer... have heard numerous people talk about failed inverters and battery replacement... i guess the end of it you either want to deal with all of that or pay for the convenience of not having too
 
SykomantiS said:
The biggest problem I have with these solar rentals is that I've not yet come across an option where I'll be saving anything. It is always more expensive than my monthly usage, which is between R1000 and R15000 (very rarely).

If a solution such as this can't take me off grid completely then it always works out at least twice as expensive as what I'm currently paying, more often than not, 3x more expensive.

This is about the cheapest option I've seen advertised or discussed.
Click to expand...
Well your eskom bill will be a lot lower then? But you'll also be load shedding proof and you can actually end up running more + you won't have the eskom increases thrown in.
Hell I was only using at max R1500 for my house, but now I'm down to 500 to 750 after my install, and it's getting better as time goes on.
 
Snyper564 said:
BUT that assumes bulk of power is used during the day, that 5kw battery isnt going to take you far at night you gonna need to fine tune the system to ensure you have sufficient back up
Click to expand...
There is that 5kw/h would take me through the night but it would be at 10% every morning.
 
What would be a bonus is if could push excess back into grid and get that as units back on meter so for example if you push 20 units a day into the grid they should reward with say 18 units does not need to be rewarded with 20 units as there is an infrastructure cost on council side as well but they should let build up units that way. It would be helping towards others as well. That way could be off grid in essence as what you pushing back into grid then end user also gets rewarded for assisting the community as such. If it all makes sense
 
Snyper564 said:
BUT that assumes bulk of power is used during the day, that 5kw battery isnt going to take you far at night you gonna need to fine tune the system to ensure you have sufficient back up
Click to expand...
Certainly. I do think there is a use case for this though - perhaps smaller flats etc. One can set the battery to only be used for loadshedding overnight and then run off grid the rest of the night if necessary. Even if you're buying in extra from the grid, if this system delivers 600kWh per month you're not paying more than if you'd used the grid and you have a more consistent supply.
 
labratza said:
What would be a bonus is if could push excess back into grid and get that as units back on meter
Click to expand...

Reverse metering is a whole nother thing.

I did hear GoSolr's business plan involves selling any excess back to the grid as soon as it becomes possible.
 
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