It’s no secret that load shedding has become exponentially worse over the past decade. According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) load shedding report published in December 2021, South Africans are experiencing an increased number of load shedding hours. The only real reprieve is an investment in solar, or other sustainable energy.

In 2014, Eskom managed to shed only 203GWh, in comparison with 2021’s 2,455GWh. That’s a 120% increase in seven years.

Opting for a more sustainable backup system, like solar, is an expensive endeavour. But it’s a completely viable option if you are prepared to carry the cost. Now a local solar installation provider, Alumo Energy, has developed an online solar cost tool. This allows South Africans to calculate what a solar installation will cost at their property.

The tool offers a clear look into potential installation costs. As well as the potential electricity bill savings if you opt for solar.

How the solar calculator works

The calculator seems fairly straightforward, but you’ll need a bit of additional info on-hand. Things like your average monthly expense on electricity from Eskom (in rands), your average cost per kWh and the % of the electricity used during the day.

While you may not know that last one off-hand, the calculator details that the average household uses around 35% of its electricity during the day. While businesses use on average 85%.

Next, you’ll drop in the phase your house is on and which solar panel array and usable battery size you’d prefer for your needs.

It’ll crunch the numbers, and present you with the total for a solar installation cost. In addition, the calculator will show what you’ll save in terms of Eskom’s monthly bills, as well as what the system will cost up-front if you opt for Alumo Energy’s solution.

Going off the standard South African household’s stats, a full solar installation will cost a total of R173,359.