Load-shedding turned solar from a niche into mainstream. Sizing, battery chemistry, inverter brand, grid-tie vs off-grid — all of these matter, and a bad install is harder to undo than a good one is to scope.
What solar covers
- Backup-only systems (inverter + battery, no panels) — R45,000-R110,000
- Hybrid systems (inverter + battery + panels, grid-tied) — R120,000-R280,000
- Off-grid systems (no Eskom connection) — R150,000-R450,000
- Solar geyser and heat-pump installs
- System monitoring and remote diagnostics
- Grid-tie applications (with the local council)
What solar costs in South Africa (2026)
For a typical Joburg/CT 3-bed home, a 5kVA hybrid with 5kWh battery and 6 panels lands at R130,000-R175,000 installed. 8kVA hybrid with 10kWh battery and 12 panels R190,000-R260,000. Battery chemistry matters: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is current standard, lifespan 10-15 years. Inverter brands: SunSynk, Deye, Victron, Goodwe — each has trade-offs around warranty, app features, and parallel-stacking. Always get a load study.
What to look for
- PVGreenCard and SAPVIA membership — both signal industry-recognised installers.
- Load study before sizing — system that's too small fails to cover load-shedding; too big wastes capital.
- Equipment list with model numbers in the quote — never just "5kVA inverter".
- Warranty terms — 5y inverter, 10y battery, 25y panels is industry-standard. Read the fine print on what voids warranty.
Handi-za solar installers list their PVGreenCard status and recent install photos. Post your usage details (last 3 months of kWh) and you'll get sized, costed quotes back from local pros.