If you’re ready to beat the blackouts and do your part to protect the environment, it’s time to go solar. It’s no surprise that solar energy is becoming more and more accessible all over the world. With Alumo Energy, the process is as painless and professional as could be and is, without a doubt, a light at the end of the tunnel for many South African citizens.
If you are considering solar as a viable option for your home or business, this article is for you. Keep reading to learn more about solar energy, our reliable solar solutions, and why you should go solar too.
Go Solar: The Significance Of Solar In Present Day
Solar is a great option for several reasons ranging from environmental and financial to pure convenience. Alumo Energy has a variety of options to suit whatever solar needs you may have, as well as highly-praised products and services – from effective solar solutions to a hassle-free installation process.
At Alumo Energy, we take great pride in what we do and the role that we play in the solar industry. Our dedication to this role is why we are currently the highest-rated residential, agricultural and industrial solar company, using only the best materials available to ensure it stays that way.
Go Solar: Save A Rand, Save The Planet
The current environmental concerns speak for themselves with the burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of our planet to collect these fuels being at an all-time high and close to a point of no return. This is why it is vital to conserve and manage what we have to ensure there is a world left for those we leave behind.
Solar energy is reliable and readily available. With solar systems becoming more efficient and requiring less maintenance, there is almost no excuse to not go solar if you’re an eco-warrior or just an environmentally conscious person at the very least. By using a solar system you are directly reducing your greenhouse gas emissions which is the aim of the game and the best, most sure-fire way to ensure that you are doing your bit for the planet and everyone that shares it.
The production of solar panels has been a hot topic in the past, with some sources stating that the use of natural materials and manufacturing of solar systems outweighs the advantage of solar.
We’re here to tell you that this is simply untrue and a short trip down the rabbit hole that is the internet could prove it – but instead, here it is summed up: a 10 kWh solar system would sustain a large household with a high energy demand, with a system half that size being capable of managing the needs of a family of 5 in a 4 bedroom house. The energy produced by a 10 kWh solar system is around 7200 kWh annually, with around 4.2 sun hours a day. To meet this need, it would take almost 6 tonnes of coal to produce the same amount of annual kWh.
If you need a more vivid example, a recent study showed that the use of renewable energy globally saved approximately 230 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2022. This would translate to the equivalent of removing 49 million petrol-powered cars off roads around the world for a year, a massive number considering there were only about 12 million vehicles in the South African road network around 2021.
With a solar system from Alumo Energy, your investment could save you R19 000 to R26 000 roughly every year, so you have more income to put towards other parts of your life. If you are dedicated to investing in a better future for yourself and your family, it’s never too late to start making good financial decisions and go solar as soon as possible.
As a starting point, if your electricity bill is around R3000 a month, renting a solar system could save you around R1200 a month. It would cost approximately R115 000 to purchase outright with potential savings ranging around R170 000. This system would also be able to run CCTV and security systems, a computer, a fridge, a kettle, 10 LED lights, a microwave and a TV for approximately 6 hours on battery alone, which is longer than any load-shedding schedule times, regardless of the stage.
Go Solar: How Solar Panels Works
In short, solar panels are made of silicon, which releases electrons and produces energy when exposed to sunlight. The wiring inside a solar panel captures and routes this energy through your system into batteries when needed. Solar panels are very frequently produced from recycled materials as well, another win for the environment, and despite popular belief, they can last up to 25 years (brand and construction dependant of course).
The growing demand for renewable energy has resulted in these systems being more readily available but has also resulted in the systems being incredibly efficient and long-lasting.
- If this idea interests you, there are also amazing solar farms or plants known as CSPs or Concentrated Solar Plants. These plants utilise mirrors to focus solar power to a central point or tower (filled with a high-temperature fluid) which then converts thermal energy to spin a turbine and generates electricity. While this is not applicable on a residential or small scale, it is an incredible concept nonetheless!
The other great thing about solar panels is that they require very little maintenance. It’s simply a case of periodic cleaning, ensuring your panels are running at their optimum and making sure that nothing is casting large shadows over your solar array.
There is no need to worry about any major obstacles or the direction the panels are facing when you rely on Alumo Energy. We will deal with all of this during an on-site assessment and ensure that you’re set up for success.
Go Solar: Types Of Installations
On-Grid Systems: On-grid systems are generally used in most residential and commercial properties, ensuring that there is electricity when the grid fails, be it for 2 hours or longer (depending on the system and the needs it is required to meet).
A major advantage of an on-grid system is that, soon enough, households and businesses will be able to sell the surplus power generated from their solar systems back into the national grid for the benefit of their wallet and the nation – a winning combination in any South African’s books.
This is a fairly new initiative called the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme or REIPPP, a fairly long acronym for a programme that essentially boils down to “bringing additional megawatts onto the country’s electrical system through private sector investment”. The initiative has created over 18,000 jobs since its inception in 2011 and has a total investment value of R33.7 billion.
Off-Grid Systems: Off-grid systems are useful if you live in a remote area without access to electricity or if you just want to be completely independent of the grid. However, they do take a little more doing and diligence on the user’s behalf. Off-grid systems generally require the optimisation of most household chores and electrical products, such as using LED lights, gas stoves, running energy-intensive items such as washing machines during the day and, at times, giving up small luxuries like having multiple slices of toast as a midnight snack and settling for bread instead.
Off-grid systems are also generally larger and require more storage capacity for your much-needed electricity which translates to additional batteries and can be seen as slightly excessive for those who have access to electricity. Additional batteries also make this kind of system far more expensive and is not recommended for larger homes that already have access to the public grid.
Go Solar: Rent Or Outright Purchase
We are aware of the financial constraints of today’s world and that’s why we offer accommodating payment plans. Our clients will have the opportunity to rent a solar system, upgrade slowly over time, or buy a solar energy system outright. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these options, however, the key point to take from this is the fact that you’ll be getting a solar system that is fully functional and able to meet your needs when you need it most.
An outright purchase can be a large investment for many people, however, if it is a possibility, you will save a great deal of money in the long run and add value to your property too. This could also be a great time to assess the appliances in your house and try to opt for more energy-efficient options, allowing you to use a smaller system to meet all your needs with a few small lifestyle and household adjustments.
Renting a solar system is a great option if you are unable to make an outright purchase but want to go solar straight away. With a simple monthly rental fee, you will be able to start reaping the benefits of solar energy immediately and you can enjoy the luxury of annual maintenance checkups, free of charge!
What It Takes To Go Solar
Despite what you may have heard over the years, solar power isn’t only for the rich and famous. In today’s world, it has become widely available and accessible through a few easy steps.
The process can be boiled down to 8 simple steps when you get your system from Alumo Energy:
- A site assessment needs to be conducted to ensure that the site is a viable option for a solar system.
- We put together a design of the system for you to envision the possibilities and present it along with the quote.
- The quote has to be accepted, of course.
- We have to conduct a credit check for rented solar systems.
- After the credit check a contract will be ready for you to sign.
- A deposit needs to be paid for the system.
- The fun starts here when you get to book a suitable time for the installation to happen.
- Lastly, we install the system so you can leave your neighbours in envy as you carry on your regular schedule despite load-shedding.
We won’t leave you to deal with any unexpected issues either. We have an amazing team that is more than happy to assist you with any queries or issues you may have with the system and offer several guarantees and warranties on our products and our workmanship – something that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.
We pride ourselves in customer service and after-sales support, keeping you happy and with electricity is the only way we would have it.
It’s obvious that whether you are in it for the environment or just wish to have electricity when you need it and not have to worry about checking an app every time you want to cook something, solar is the obvious option, so why not go solar today?