Val de Vie planning solar power plant

[Arzy]

Yes but in this case it is just another governing body who limits the freedom of people to take care of themselves in the most efficient manner, for their own financial gain.

"Residents get a discount of 5-15% on tarrif and that's it." - and there will be enough added to the levy to more than make up for that 15%.

Um, if you are going to quote me at least do it in context. My next sentence stated that surplusses were used to maintain the systems and then reduce levies.

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

I'm sure billing is already centralised.... All of these estates and even blocks of flats are done by 3rd parties.

The reason it's not on the roofs is because the estate doesn't own the roofs! The individual owners do!

Nonsense, who in his right mind would rather not get a financial benefit by not going solar themselves? These estates all have rules that were set long ago that disallows the owners putting solar panels on their roofs.

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

Um, if you are going to quote me at least do it in context. My next sentence stated that surplusses were used to maintain the systems and then reduce levies.

"Reduce levies" - Its much cheaper to just do this yourself. Lets see that Val de Vie levy!

 

[Pax]

The looks thing is just false rule to exploit the home owners. It would be cheaper for the home owners to go solar by themselves, but now they will be at the mercy of the prices set by estate management.

You may be forgetting that estate management is in the service of and employees of the home owners. The HOA (owners) runs the estate for their own benefit. They cannot enrich themselves nor are home owners at their mercy. Yes, I live on a similar estate, so I have a vague idea of how it works.

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

5) Solar panels that track the sun throughout the day/year is better than static panels on rooftops

6) Solar panels that track the sun throughout the day/year on the roof is better than those on the ground

 

[RonSwanson]

They probably don't want to sully the beauty of their homes with unsightly solar panels on the roofs

I guess that it's subjective, personally I find well installed solar panels on a North-facing roof to be much prettiness

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

You may be forgetting that estate management is in the service of and employees of the home owners. The HOA (owners) runs the estate for their own benefit. They cannot enrich themselves nor are home owners at their mercy. Yes, I live on a similar estate, so I have a vague idea of how it works.

I know what you are saying, and Val de Vie is a bad example because there only lives the very rich who are mad enough to pay a premium to have solar centralized and on the ground because of "looks".

 

[BuckRogers]

"Reduce levies" - Its much cheaper to just do this yourself. Lets see that Val de Vie levy!

These are R10m properties. The occupants are not financially challenged. I guess for them the energy security is the important part, without the hassle of installing and managing the solar system

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

The fact remains, you are best off doing this yourself.

 

[Gtx Gaming]

The green school located in val de vie has been of the grid for a while, school fees reflect that

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

The green school located in val de vie has been of the grid for a while, school fees reflect that

What is the school fee? What is the Val de Vie levy?

 

[system32]

3 reasons I can think off that makes sense to centralise:

1) Maintenance
2) No need to retrofit each home
3) centralised billing

Not sure, but is this an existing estate or a new estate?
If existing state, then a central PV+Battery will be simpler & cheaper.

IMHO, any new ZA home should have PV, inverter and battery - should be part of the building code.

 

[Arzy]

"Reduce levies" - Its much cheaper to just do this yourself. Lets see that Val de Vie levy!

Depends on the circumstances.

In sectional title complexes, where this would be the easiest to implement, the resident doesn't own the roof. It belongs to the body corporate and you'd need their permission to do your own.

In some full title estates the estate rules specifically prohibit this. It's may be your roof but you agreed to adhere to the rules as part of your purchase.

So, yes, I agree with your point that it may be better to do it yourself. There are however many instances where it's just not possible and more so in estates.

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

Not sure, but is this an existing estate or a new estate?
If existing state, then a central PV+Battery will be simpler & cheaper.

IMHO, any new ZA home should have PV, inverter and battery - should be part of the building code.

You are better off doing this yourself, socialist energy is always more expensive. Why is it cheaper to have a separate remote solar farm? This sounds a lot more expensive to me.

 

[Khahn]

I think we're in for a fun ride. The upper middle and well off of will either emigrate or go solar. These kind of communities will generate their own power and Eskom will be left with the people that can't pay to carry them...

You are so right! The more affluent communities will all start doing this and show gavamunt and eishkom the finga - who gonna fund da taxes now mahn!

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

Depends on the circumstances.

In sectional title complexes, where this would be the easiest to implement, the resident doesn't own the roof. It belongs to the body corporate and you'd need their permission to do your own.

In some full title estates the estate rules specifically prohibit this. It's may be your roof but you agreed to adhere to the rules as part of your purchase.

So, yes, I agree with your point that it may be better to do it yourself. There are however many instances where it's just not possible and more so in estates.

These rules were all made many years ago when the situation and cost were not so bad. The complex I live in is freehold but there are rules on purchasing that is set and 1 of these rules are no solar panels on the roof. I spoke to my body corporate and they had no choice but to acknowledge that they have no right to prevent me from putting up panels when I explained it to them.

 

[system32]

I know what you are saying, and Val de Vie is a bad example because there only lives the very rich who are mad enough to pay a premium to have solar centralized and on the ground because of "looks".

Seems Val de Vie not rich enough to afford a tesla solar roof.
Looks like a normal roof so does not affect the "looks"

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

You are so right! The more affluent communities will all start doing this and show gavamunt and eishkom the finga - who gonna fund da taxes now mahn!

Nope, they have their hooks in place. They have the new solar tariffs and grid connection levy to up when they need more money. This is why the private uptake of solar is basically non-existent.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

I guess that it's subjective, personally I find well installed solar panels on a North-facing roof to be much prettiness

I'm with you there. For some (us excluded of course ) it's also their 'green badge', to be worn with pride.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

These are R10m properties. The occupants are not financially challenged. I guess for them the energy security is the important part, without the hassle of installing and managing the solar system

I was a bit surprised at their approach (the way it is described) because panels alone don't provide power security or prevent loadshedding. The storage is essential. Panels do obviously save on kWH units. SA is definitely in the phase where we need more panels, but at some future stage the regulator will create a peak/off-peak tariff or charge for grid-backup.