Find a new power source.
The most crucial step toward making your home energy-independent will be to choose energy sources that do not rely on coal. Among the options are:
Solar energy
Solar is the most popular renewable energy source, and it is a realistic alternative in South Africa, which is a top site for solar concentration. Solar panels are the most important component of a solar-powered system. They are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells that collect the sun’s rays and create direct current, which is then converted to alternative current by an inverter.
Power from natural gas
Bottled LPG gas is a cost-effective and easy-to-implement choice. There are also gas generators on the market now, which are “quite cheap and cost-effective to run, as well as significantly quieter than a diesel generator and with none of the fumes,” according to Angus.
A gas-powered geyser will let you break free from your reliance on the electricity grid. Geysers often consume 60% of domestic electricity and are hence the first port of call for homeowners looking to increase energy efficiency.
Power from a battery
The preferred solution for restaurants and retail malls that want to stay open during loadshedding, while homeowners may be put off by the hefty cost of deployment. However, according to the Western Cape’s guidelines, a relatively low-end battery system may be constructed for roughly R15 000. This would be enough to provide 1 000 Watt (10.5A) of continuous power and 1.2 kWh of energy (to put that in perspective, a TV and a decoder use about 30W when off, and 150W whilst activated).
A high-end battery system that generates enough power to keep big residences completely functioning during loadshedding costs around R50,000 (without installation), and there are mid-range solutions that aim to balance power demand and cost.
Is it worthwhile to go off-grid?
An off-grid solar system can power your complete home with renewable energy while also optimizing electricity usage. Many grid-connected houses squander power, but a standalone system pushes you to value electricity and make the most of your own generation.
In South Africa, can you sell power back to the grid?
The majority of towns in South Africa permit residential and commercial property owners to input renewable energy into the country’s electricity system. Selling energy at home is one of the simplest methods to make passive money.
How many solar panels are required to power a house off-grid?
According to most estimates, a typical American home (2,000 square feet) utilizes roughly 11,000 kilowatt-hours per year. So, dividing our entire usage by the estimated production of one solar panel, we discover that around thirteen of these panels would be adequate to power a home of that size.
