Solar & Battery Design Tools for South Africa Design Systems, Calculate ROI & Find Installers
Design solar and battery systems across South Africa using Photonik's professional design platform. South Africa has excellent solar potential with over 2,500 hours of sunshine annually and cumulative solar capacity exceeding 9.4 GW. Frequent load shedding has driven rapid solar adoption, making solar and battery storage essential for energy security.
ℹ️ Get quick estimates for solar and battery sizing, costs, and savings in South Africa using these simplified calculators. For more accurate, advanced calculations, use the full Photonik design platform.
Solar Design South Africa
Energy Usage
Understanding your household's daily energy consumption is essential for designing an effective solar system in South Africa. The average South African household uses between 10-20 kWh per day, with energy-efficient properties often using significantly less. This consumption reflects South Africa's climate, home sizes, and lifestyle patterns, with higher usage during winter months for heating and summer months for cooling.
Before installing solar, consider reducing your energy consumption through improved insulation and energy-efficient appliances. This is particularly valuable in South Africa, where load shedding makes reducing consumption a sound investment that can lower required solar system size and improve returns, especially when combined with battery storage.
Typical energy usage per person per day in South Africa:
Note: Actual usage varies depending on property size, building efficiency, climate, and appliances.
Solar System Sizing
You'll need around 3.9kW of solar to match your average South African household consumption. We recommend sizing between 5.9kW and 7.9kW for optimal results, accounting for daily and seasonal variations. South Africa enjoys excellent solar potential, with most regions averaging 4.5-6.5 kWh/kW/day annually, amongst the highest in the world, with consistent generation throughout most of the year.
A 6.6 kW system in South Africa generates approximately 29.3 kWh daily on average, with seasonal variation from 3.80 kWh/kW/day in June to 4.87 kWh/kW/day in October. South Africa's exceptional solar irradiance, combined with frequent load shedding, makes solar and battery storage particularly attractive for homeowners seeking energy independence.
Solar & Energy Savings
Calculate Heat Pump & EV Savings
Electrify your home by replacing gas heating, petrol vehicles, and other fossil fuel appliances with electric alternatives powered by clean solar energy. This delivers significant additional financial savings and substantial carbon emission reductions. Our calculator helps you compare costs and model the financial impact of switching to electric appliances and vehicles.
How Solar Reduces Your Electricity Bills
The calculations below show how your electricity bills change with solar. Your Old Bill of - per month (- annually) is calculated from your total energy consumption multiplied by the grid electricity rate. Your New Bill of - per month (- annually) accounts for solar generation, the percentage you use directly (self-consumption), remaining grid consumption, and feed-in credits for excess energy exported to the grid. This results in monthly savings of - (- annually).
Battery Storage South Africa
Solar Battery Sizing
With solar-only (no battery), a 6.6 kW system provides approximately 50% self-usage in South Africa, depending on your consumption patterns, drawing 50% from the grid. Adding a 10 kWh battery increases energy independence to approximately 99% annually, reducing grid reliance to 1%. Battery storage is essential in South Africa, allowing you to store excess daytime generation for use during load shedding periods and evening hours, providing critical backup power and maximising the value of your solar investment.
Net metering and feed-in tariffs vary by municipality in South Africa, with rates typically ranging from R0.50-R1.50 per kWh depending on your area. Battery storage is particularly valuable given frequent load shedding, providing backup power during outages. For accurate battery savings and ROI calculations specific to your location and municipality, use the full Photonik design tool.
Energy Self Sufficiency Calculator*
*Note: This calculator provides simplified battery self-sufficiency estimates. For accurate per-hour simulations that account for solar generation patterns, consumption timing, battery charging/discharging cycles, and efficiency losses across all seasons, use the full Photonik design tool.
Panel Placement Tool South Africa
This is a simple panel placement tool that lets you quickly estimate panel count for a single roof area. Try Photonik for advanced features:
- Multiple panel groups
- Custom roof angles
- Panel orientation
- Shade loss calculations
- Panel selection (1000+ models)
- Full integration with our design tool
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Solar & Battery System Cost South Africa
Understanding Solar & Battery System Costs
A 6.6 kW solar system in South Africa costs approximately R106,088, while adding a 10 kWh battery increases the total to around R213,957. South Africa offers competitive installation costs, with costs varying by province and installer, though battery storage is essential given frequent load shedding. Solar-only systems typically pay for themselves in around 5.8 years in South Africa, whilst adding battery storage usually extends payback but significantly improves energy independence and provides critical backup power during load shedding. South Africa's excellent solar potential and frequent power outages make solar and battery storage particularly attractive, with many systems achieving payback in under 6-8 years.
The cost breakdown shows estimates for equipment costs, installation labour, and VAT. Adjust system size and battery storage to see how it affects total investment and payback periods. South Africa has good installer coverage, with qualified installers operating throughout major provinces, providing competitive pricing and quality installations.