As South Africa grapples with load-shedding, many people want to move away from their Eskom electricity supply and toward alternative power sources.

Initially, most people turned to a simple inverter and battery system, but with load-shedding stages that escalated so quickly, these systems were no match for the large number of cycles. This leads to premature deterioration of the batteries on the system and shorter battery life spans.

Recently, to combat the problem of severe load-shedding, the South African government introduced incentives to install solar power systems to alleviate the massive pressure Eskom is under with its failing infrastructure.

Many South Africans are jumping on the solar power system bandwagon because once the upfront installation costs are out of the way, the generation of solar power costs next to nothing.

Solar power systems are clean, sustainable and affordable in the long run, but it is worth investigating what the pros and cons are, as well as what to consider when looking to install a solar-powered system in your home.

 

How can a solar panel generate an electrical current?

Sunlight consists of particles of energy called photons that are absorbed by the panel’s photovoltaic cells. An electron is knocked loose from an atom within the cell when a photon particle from the sun bumps into a photovoltaic cell in the panel.  This process creates an electrical field across the layers of the cell. The loose electron is attracted to the electrical field causing it to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons generates DC electricity.

How does a solar power system work?

These systems generate electricity from solar panels as described in the process above, which are connected to an inverter to change the DC current generated to usable AC current, or your normal 12V home electricity. Normally a solar battery is also installed along with the solar panels and inverter to store the excess electricity generated by the solar panels for use at night or during periods when there is much less sunlight.  A charge controller is also added to the system to regulate the flow of electricity between the solar panels and the batteries. This ensures the batteries are not overcharged or discharged. Lastly, a monitoring system tracks the performance of the whole system, providing information on the amount of electricity generated.

 

The Pros and Cons of switching to solar.

Switching to solar power has ample advantages:

1.       Cost saving: Solar power systems can help save money on electricity bills in the long run.

2.       Environmental benefits: Solar is a clean and sustainable source of electricity.

3.       Independence: Stitching to solar provides a reliable source of electricity that is not dependent on the energy grid of South Africa.

However, as with many things in life, there are a few drawbacks to consider:

1.       High initial investment: Solar systems are expensive to install for larger homes or businesses.

2.       Weather-dependent: Solar power systems rely on sunlight so may not be as reliable on days when there is low sunlight or stormy weather if you do not have energy storage batteries.

3.       Maintenance requirements: Solar panels need to be cleaned regularly to ensure they perform well. Checking on the batteries often is also advisable to ensure that your system works as it should.

 
How do I calculate the size of the solar system needed for my home?

You can first start by determining your home’s energy consumption. Review your utility bills for the past year and add up the total amount of kilowatt-hours (kWh) you’ve used. This will give you an estimate of the average energy consumption per day if you divide the total for the year by 365. You can also look at your most-used appliances and how much energy they use. Find this information on the labels of the devices or in their user manuals.

Calculating the size of your solar power system will depend on your energy usage and the amount of sunlight in your area.

If a 1-kilowatt kW system can generate around 4kWh of stored electricity in a day (estimated) then you can calculate the system size by dividing your average daily consumption by this 4kWh.

For example, if your daily energy consumption is 20kWh, you would need a solar power system with a capacity of around 5kW (20kWh/4kWh = 5kW)

 
Where can I find reliable solar power solutions and components?

www.AgMarket.co.za offers several solar options including the Sunsynk 8kw inverter and solar combo. This combo includes installation and the necessary COC certificate.

The Sunsynk 8kw Hybrid inverter offered with this system is a powerful, versatile inverter that can be used in on- and off-grid applications. It has a built-in solar charge controller and can support about 8kW of solar power input. The inverter carries a 5–year warranty.

The 5.1kWh 51V Green Rich Batteries are high-capacity lithium-ion batteries that can store a large amount of electricity. It is robust and durable and can provide reliable service for many years. The Batteries come with a 10-year warranty.

The twelve 550W solar panels are high-performance panels that can generate a total of 6.6kW of electricity under optimal conditions. The Solar panels come with a 20 Year warranty.

In conclusion:

Solar power systems are an effective way of ensuring you have power throughout the day and although the input costs are high, they more than make up for the convenience of having power when our conventional power suppliers cannot keep up with the demand of South Africa. For more information, or to chat with our technical department, give us a call at 010 020 6321 or email us at info@agmarket.co.za.