North-facing roofs with little to no shade and enough space to fit a solar panel system are ideal for installing solar. However, in many cases there are workarounds if your home doesn't have the ideal roof for a solar installation.

Solar energy systems can last 25 to 35 years, so it's important to ensure your roof is ready for a solar installation. Removing and reinstalling panels can be costly, so if your roof needs maintenance soon, it's best to complete those repairs before going solar.

Your solar energy system relies on sunlight to generate power. While solar panels produce less energy on cloudy days and none at night, adding batteries to your solar energy system lets you store excess energy produced during the day for use when the sun isn't shining.

Installing solar panels typically keeps you connected to the grid. This allows your solar energy system to draw power when needed and send excess energy back. To go off-grid, you'll need a solar energy system with battery storage, which is ideal for properties without grid access.

In general, solar panels are very durable and capable of withstanding snow, wind and hail. The various components of your solar power system will need to be replaced at different times, but your system should continue to generate electricity for 25 to 35 years.

The first step is working out which package suits your needs, using our online calculator. Once you submit your details you'll receive a quote. If you accept it, we'll schedule a free site assessment to take exact measurements and confirm the system is feasible. You'll then receive a proforma invoice, and once your deposit is paid an installation team will contact you to arrange a convenient date. The physical installation takes approximately one to two days.

Solar panels absorb the sun's energy throughout the day and convert it to direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes and businesses run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so DC electricity is passed through an inverter to convert it to usable AC electricity. At that point you either use the electricity in your home or send it back to the grid.

Solar power, like other renewable energy resources, has many environmental and health benefits. Going solar reduces greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change, and also results in fewer air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and particulate matter which can cause health problems.

In situations where your landlord would previously have needed to sign surety for the solar system, they now have the choice to co-sign, granting us access to the property as needed. Importantly, they won't bear financial responsibility for the system, increasing the likelihood of approval for the installation.

Yes. NERSA regulations require that your solar energy system be registered with your local power provider and comply with government regulations. If you are connected to the Eskom grid, you may need to submit an SSEG application for approval before installation. This ensures your system meets safety and technical standards for legal grid connection.

The SSEG application is a registration process required by municipalities for small-scale embedded generation systems. Each municipality has its own SSEG policy, so the process varies, and approval can take 6 to 12 months as applications go through different technical reviews. Some municipalities have dedicated departments to assist, while others do not.

Yes. With rising electricity costs and frequent power outages, switching to solar helps you reduce your electricity bill and gain energy independence. By generating your own renewable energy you lower your reliance on Eskom, protect yourself from future tariff increases, and increase your property value.

We offer two ways to go solar. Rent To Own is a rental over 3, 5 or 7 years with the option to own the system outright at the end, from R1 418 a month. Subscription is a monthly plan with no fixed term, from R1 299 a month, with the option to cancel after 24 months. Both include free annual maintenance and insurance.

Rent-to-own lets you switch to solar with no up-front cost. You can upgrade your system at any time, buy it out whenever you choose, and free annual maintenance and insurance are included. Accept your quote within 7 days and we'll waive the initiation fee.

When you install a solar energy system on your property you can save significantly on electricity bills while protecting yourself from rising rates in the future. Your savings will depend on your local utility rates, but going solar is a forward-thinking investment wherever you are.

The easiest way to find out how much electricity you use each month, and how much you pay for it, is to look at your municipal utilities bill.

Unless your solar energy system includes battery storage and you are fully off the grid, you'll still receive a bill from your utility. However, you can dramatically reduce it — or bring it close to zero — with a solar and battery system matched to your energy use.

Yes. Even with a solar energy system you may still need to pay a connection fee to remain linked to the grid. This ensures access to electricity when solar generation is low or during periods of high demand, and contributes to grid maintenance so you can use the grid as a backup.

Tax incentives for rooftop solar have changed since they were introduced, and what you can claim depends on the current tax year and your circumstances. Speak to your tax practitioner, or get in touch and we'll point you at the latest position.

The transfer is only complete once the transferee has signed the new Solar Rental Agreement and Alumo Energy has received the signed agreement back. Until we receive the signed contract, the existing agreement — and the transferor's responsibility for it — remains fully in place.

No. Transfer of the property at the Deeds Office and transfer of the Solar Rental Agreement are two separate processes. Registering the property in the transferee's name does not move the rental agreement across — the agreement transfers only once the signed contract is received from the transferee.

No. Alumo Energy is not a party to the Offer to Purchase — that agreement is between the transferor and transferee only. While a sale agreement may record that the parties intend to transfer the Solar Rental Agreement, Alumo is not bound by it and cannot be compelled through it to approve a transfer, waive its requirements, or meet a particular date. The transfer still follows Alumo's own process, including the transferee's credit assessment and signature of a new agreement. Please engage with Alumo directly and early rather than relying on the Offer to Purchase alone.

No. Alumo Energy does not apportion or pro-rate monthly rentals. Rentals are billed as full months, and the full monthly amount remains payable until the transfer is complete. Any arrangement to share that month's cost between the transferor and transferee is a private matter between them and does not change how Alumo bills.

The transferor. You remain responsible for the monthly rental until Alumo Energy has received the signed agreement from the transferee — even if the property has already been registered in the transferee's name.

The first monthly rental is collected by debit order on the first day of the month following signature of the transfer agreement.

The transfer cannot proceed until a suitable applicant has been approved.

Yes. Company transfers require CIPC registration documents, signed suretyship documentation, and any additional supporting information requested during the approval process.

You can either purchase the solar system outright, based on the buy-out calculation, or apply for an early administrative cancellation, subject to approval and the applicable cancellation terms.

Arrears should ideally be settled before the transfer. Where any arrears are to remain, their treatment must be agreed in writing with Alumo Energy as part of the transfer.

Yes. Once the transfer is complete, the transferee may request relocation, subject to a technical assessment, approval, and the applicable relocation costs.