If a solar installation guide is something you need, allow us to fill you in on everything you need to know to get started. South Africa’s energy demand has increased in tandem with economic activities, load shedding escalations and an ever-increasing population. This is where Alumo Energy comes in with the ideal solar installation solution. Keep reading for a quick solar installation guide as well as a comprehensive checklist to help you prepare to go solar.
Sollar Installation Guide
As a policy maker and key provider of public services, the government formed the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP). INEP’s key aim is to achieve universal access by 2025 through grid connection and solar home systems. The 2019 plan was created with ambitious aspirations of creating 6,000 megawatts of new solar energy capacity and 14,400 megawatts of new wind power capacity by 2030.
All of these key interventions from both the government and the private sector have led to a drastic decline in technology costs, supportive energy policies and incentives that are encouraging consumers to consider other sources of energy – steering the country away from fossil fuel reliance. Featuring most prominently on the list of energy options is solar installation. Before one considers a solar installation, let us give you an idea of the different types of solar energy technologies that are available on the market:
Solar Thermal
This type of solar system is specifically designed for heating purposes. This method requires a black surface that absorbs light, heats up and transfers the heat into a working fluid. The working fluid is then tasked with the responsibility of moving the heat where it is best needed. This can be used for hot water storage, a swimming pool or to provide heat for a building.
Concentrated Solar Power
This solar system is for electricity generation. Power is generated through mirrors or lenses which is then concentrated into a receiver. Electricity is produced when the stored and converted thermal energy is used to ignite a thermal chemical reaction in a steam turbine or power generator.
Solar Photovoltaics and Batteries
This type of solar electricity is generated when the sun shines onto a solar panel. The energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in the panel. The PV cells are what form solar panels. They can be built to meet different scales of need. This is Alumo Energy’s main area of expertise.
A solar and battery system generates solar power from, you guessed it; solar panels, and stores that energy in a battery bank. When scaled up to the correct size, you can rely entirely on the sun for power but still remain connected to the grid in case poor weather steals your sunshine. In certain circumstances, you can even feed back into the grid and have your electricity bill credited!
Part Two of Your Solar Installation Guide: Solar Installation Checklist
Your Budget
First and foremost, you must consider what your levels of affordability are. The solar market offers a vast array of options to suit your budget. Alumo Energy also offers a rental option, an outright purchase option, and the option to start small and expand-as-you-go.
The Solar Energy Audit
The solar energy audit refers to your current energy needs. You need to carefully check areas around your household where most of your electricity is needed. This will help you determine the size and capacity of the solar system you should install. Once we know what kind of solar solution you’re looking for, our team of professional engineers will design your solar energy system according to your specifications and global best-practice procedures.
Solar Installation Space
It is vitally important for your solar installer to know what type of roof you have. Is your roof strategically positioned and are there possible obstructions and impediments to the proper functioning of the solar system? All of this must be looked into beforehand and would be done so by our team of experts.
Check Credentials
Make sure that whatever solar installer you are considering has previous work performance. This can be done by looking at customer testimonials. When choosing a solar installer, ask yourself a few questions; Do they have substantial prior experience in solar installations? If so, did they offer end-to-end installations, or did they only carry out a few of the steps?
Double-Check Your Quote
When you receive your quotation for your solar system, the estimate should list the price of each component individually and other costs, such as labour, mounting etc. Everything should be itemised and the quote must be adhered to without extra costs at the end of the solar installation.
Product Quality & Installation Techniques
Make sure that the solar panels you will use have a Certificate of Compliance with the IEC standard. IEC standards are the international version of the SABS and are the perfect indication of the quality of the panels. Research battery options too – batteries used in home energy storage are generally made with one of three chemical compositions: lead acid, lithium-ion and lithium polymer. In most instances, lithium-ion is the best option for a solar panel system, although other battery types may be more affordable. Specialised solar installers will be able to customise your solar design to fit your architectural needs or building materials.
Licensing & Qualifications
It is essential that the solar company taking on your installation has all the requisite paperwork that must include a PV GreenCard, Wireman’s licence, SAPVIA registration and a certificate for working at heights. You must also request an Electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC)
Any Department of Labour-registered electrician who performs the installation must supply you with a CoC after he has carried out the installation and completed the required tests and checks. Alumo Energy has all the correct requirements and certifications required to carry out such work.
System Monitoring
It is vital to understand how you should monitor the system output as it can help make you more aware of your installed system’s performance. The monitoring system offers information about energy generation and consumption, optimising energy usage and alerting you when your solar panels are damaged. It will either be displayed on the inverter and/or can be tracked on the web or by downloading the system monitoring app on your smartphone.
Production Estimate
The company doing your solar installation should also provide you with an electricity production estimate for the solar system with average weather for the year. Thereby, you can compare your average electricity usage with the production estimate to confirm that you are satisfied with the system output. Installers should use Helioscope or a similar software to determine average solar annual yield.
Post Installation Maintenance
Always make sure you obtain all warranties and guarantees on offer, both for the solar installation itself and for its components (solar modules, inverters, structural system). Double-check if there are any differences between the manufacturer’s and the installer’s warranties and guarantees. There should be at least a 1-year workmanship warranty on a full solar installation.
At Alumo Energy, we go beyond offering a solar installation guide! We guarantee you products that last and offer favourable warranties to keep your lights on for longer. We also offer an annual maintenance checkup to keep your solar installation functioning as good as new.
After Solar Installation
After all the paperwork is done and contracts have been signed, Alumo Energy will install solar panels on the roof of your property. Depending on the surface area and style of your roof, we will decide on the best possible place to position your solar panels. These solar panels generate electricity via sunlight, and this electricity is used to power your property. During days of sunny weather, your solar panels will be operating at maximum capacity, generating electricity from the shining South African sun.
If you have a battery backup installed with your solar system, then any excess energy generated by your solar panels will be exported to the battery. This means you will be able to charge your battery with the excess solar energy that goes unused in your home during the day. This stored energy can then be used to power your property when grid electricity fails, keeping your lights on and your electronics running until the sun comes up again.
Here’s a quick summary list of how it works:
During the day, sunlight hits the solar panels on the roof of your property, and that energy is then converted to DC energy.
This DC electricity is then stored in your Alumo Energy solar backup battery.
When grid energy fails, the stored electricity is then run through an inverter and converted into AC energy that can be used to power your home until you can return to grid energy again.
Your Alumo Energy solar energy system will be able to switch seamlessly from grid energy to your battery bank storage thanks to innovative new solar technology.
Breeze through load shedding with the stored energy in your battery bank and get switched on with Alumo Energy solar solutions for home life and business properties!
Conclusion: Choose Alumo Energy
Now that you know the benefits and the process of what happens with a solar installation and a backup battery, you can see just how it can change lives for the better. We believe that everybody deserves a stable energy source and we strive to open up the market for solar energy solutions in order to get everyone switched on.
At Alumo Energy, we make sure that you can start your solar journey on an affordable budget with flexible payment options to accommodate different bank accounts. Take a look at our three accommodating options when it comes to covering your solar system and battery backup:
Rent: This option requires limited up-front capital investment, and allows you to rent a solar energy system without having to break the bank. This option is ideal for home or small business owners who want to benefit immediately from solar energy solutions with the assurance of continuous support from the Alumo Energy maintenance team.
Buy: If you feel you can afford to purchase your Alumo Energy system upfront, then this option is the best for you. Break away from steep electrical costs and beat load shedding by buying a solar energy system outright. Get in contact and let us know what you need. Once we know what you are looking for, we will send you a quote. After you have paid the deposit, our team will have your new solar energy system installed in just a few days. It’s that simple!
Expand-As-You-Go: Anyone who is eager to own a solar energy system of their own but can’t afford to pay a vast amount of money upfront has this perfect solution. Alumo Energy allows you to start small and expand as you go, beginning your solar journey with the basics and adding and upgrading at your own pace and time frame.
All of our energy solutions are tailored to your specifications, providing you with optimal energy designs and installations. Your property deserves only the best and Alumo Energy strives to provide just that.