Honest, jargon-free answers to what South Africans actually ask before going solar, from cost and finance to load-shedding, batteries and the paperwork.
North-facing roofs with little shade and enough space are ideal, but east/west roofs and trickier layouts usually work too. The installer confirms suitability during the free site assessment before anything is finalised.
Yes, just at reduced output. Panels generate less on overcast days and nothing at night, which is exactly why a battery matters. It stores daytime energy so you can use it after dark or when it’s grey.
Panels typically produce for 25–35 years. The inverter and battery are shorter-lived components that may be replaced once over that span, which is normal and planned for.
You can, but for most homes it isn’t worth it. A grid-tied system with a battery gives you backup and savings at a far lower cost than sizing a system to never touch the grid. Full off-grid makes sense mainly where there’s no reliable grid at all.
Panels convert sunlight into DC electricity; the inverter turns that into the AC power your home uses. A battery stores the surplus for later, and the grid tops up any shortfall.
A system with a battery will keep your power on. It switches over in a fraction of a second, so your essentials stay on. A solar-only system without a battery does not provide backup during an outage. If riding out load-shedding is your goal, you want a battery.
It depends on size, but a typical home battery comfortably runs lights, Wi-Fi, TV, a fridge and charging for several hours. Bigger packages store more, for longer backup or heavier loads.
For most homes, yes. A battery is silent, automatic, needs no fuel, and switches over instantly. A generator has running costs, noise and a delay, though it can run indefinitely if you keep feeding it fuel.
Alumo currently advertises rent-to-own from R1,418 per month and subscription from R1,299 per month. The final price depends on the system designed for your home and your eligibility.
Alumo currently offers rent-to-own over 3, 5 or 7 years, with an option to own, and a monthly subscription with an option to cancel after 24 months. Your agreement confirms all ownership and cancellation terms.
Unless you go fully off-grid, yes, but a well-sized system can shrink it dramatically. You’ll typically still pay a connection/availability charge to your municipality for grid access and backup.
Businesses can claim the Section 12B allowance, a 100% deduction of qualifying renewable-energy assets in the first year. Home tax incentives have been more limited and change year to year, so check the current rules for your situation.
Generally yes. A paid-off, well-installed solar system is an attractive feature that can support resale value and speed up a sale, especially given rising electricity prices and load-shedding fatigue.
After you accept a quote, there’s a free site assessment and a final design, then installation, usually one to two days for a home system, followed by commissioning and the compliance paperwork.
For a grid-tied system, yes. Most municipalities require you to register your small-scale embedded generation (SSEG). Timelines vary by area. The installer handles the technical side and paperwork.
If your roof needs work soon, it’s best to do it before installing panels, since removing and refitting panels later adds cost. The site assessment flags any roof concerns up front.
Insist on an itemised quote you can compare, confirm the inverter is NRS-approved, check the battery’s usable capacity (depth of discharge) and cycle life, and understand the finance terms: escalation, buy-out and who owns the system.
Ask us anything, or jump straight to a free, no-obligation quote. We're happy to help you compare.
SolarGuide is an independent referral partner; Alumo supplies, installs, finances and warrants the systems. Pricing is indicative and subject to a site assessment and credit approval.
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