How much does it cost to install solar panels in South Africa?
The cost of installing solar panels in South Africa is R.80,000 to R.500,000, depending on the size of the panels, inverter, and solar batteries. This includes the price of panels, batteries, meter, charging system, inverter, and installation. The number of watts determines the difference in the size of the solar system to be installed. A solar system can produce up to 20,000 watts of electricity. The more the watts, the more it will be expensive to install. The more watts, the more solar panels, and batteries are needed, as we shall see later.
To install a solar system in South Africa, you need to pay a tax; we will show you what percentage of the total cost will go to tax. Not every solar system is eligible for this tax. We will help you understand better how solar system installation taxation in South Africa works.
Let us first look at the price of solar systems in South Africa. Knowing how much they cost before you start budgeting for installation is essential. You can also view the cost of a borehole in South Africa.
Here is the average cost of building a house in south africa
Price Of Solar Systems In South Africa
The size of the system determines the price of a solar system in South Africa. Equally, the size of solar panels is determined by the electricity they produce in Watts. A solar system comes with different parts, including:
- Solar panel: A solar panel is installed and exposed to sunlight to collect sunlight energy and pass it to the inverter.
- Solar charging system: The solar charging system has batteries charged by solar energy during the day as a reserve for nighttime use.
- Solar system inverter: Sun energy collected by the solar panel comes here, where it is converted to electrical energy and then stored in the solar charging system.
- Solar meter: A solar meter records how much energy has been consumed by the solar system and how much is left.
The amount of electrical energy a solar system releases is determined by its wattage. The more watts a solar system carries, the more energy it can hold. Below is a table of different sizes of solar systems and their prices in South Africa. These are complete systems with all the above parts of a solar system.
Also, see:
Price Of Solar Panels Per Watts In South Africa
| Solar Panel Watts | Price |
| 400 Watts | R.2,400-R.3,500 |
| 500 Watts | R.3,200-R.4,000 |
| 600 Watts | R.3,800-R.4,500 |
| 3,000 Watts | R.30,000-R.50,000 |
| 5,000 Watts | R.80,000-R.120,000 |
| 10,000 Watts | R.180,000-R.300,000 |
| 12,000 Watts | R.250,000-R.320,000 |
| 20,000 Watts | R.500,000-R.600,000 |
A Breakdown Of The Cost Of Solar Panel Installation In South Africa
1. Legal requirement fees for solar installation in south africa
The government requires one to pay a tax before installing a solar system that has solar panels that will have solar panels installed on the roof. The government charges 25% of the total price of the solar panels but to a maximum of R.15,000. Paying this is essential so that you avoid problems with the government in the future. This tax is only applicable to new rooftop solar panels.
2. Transportation costs
The cost of transporting the solar system to the destination of installation in South Africa varies depending on the following factors:
- Size of the solar system: The more the wattage of a solar system, the more the transportation price.
- Distance from solar system provider to where the solar system is being installed. The longer the distance from the provider to the installation site, the more is charged for transportation.
- Location. Transportation in urban centres is more affordable than in rural areas because of developed means of transport in the cities and small towns.
3. Cost Of Solar Installation Labor In South Africa
The cost of hiring labour to install a solar system is R.9,500-R.300,000. Solar system installation prices vary depending on your location. Hiring labour to install a solar system in rural areas is more expensive than in urban centres. The primary determinant of the price of installing a solar system is the size of the solar system. Below are different sizes of solar systems and the cost of hiring labour to install them in south africa:
- 300-500 Watts R.9,500-R.16,000
- 600-1,000 Watts: R.19,000-R.32,000
- 2500-5,000 Watts: R.80,000-R.160,000
- 10,000-12,000 Watts: R.180,000-R.200,000
- 20,000 Watts: R.200,000-R.300,000
Solar Battery Prices In South Africa
| Solar Battery (Kwh) | Price |
| 1Kwh | R7,000-R12,000 |
| 2Kwh | R15,000-R24,000 |
| 4Kwh | R.24,000-R30,000 |
| 6Kwh | R40,000-R50,000 |
| 8Kwh | R60,000-R68,000 |
| 10Kwh | R60,000-R80,000 |
How Many Batteries Are Needed For A Solar System In South Africa?
Below is a list of different Solar Panels that hold different solar panel watts and the number of batteries needed for each one:
- 500W Solar Panel: A 500W solar panel needs one 200 Amp solar battery to run effectively.
- 2,500W Solar Panel: A 2,500W solar panel needs at least five 200 Amp solar batteries to run effectively.
- 5,000W Solar Panel: A 5,000W solar panel needs at least two 1,000 Amp solar batteries to run effectively
- 10,000W Solar Panel: A 10,000W solar panel needs at least four 1,000 Amp solar batteries to run effectively.
- 20,000W Solar Panel: A 20,000W solar panel needs at least four 2,000 Amp solar batteries to run effectively.
Solar Inverter Prices In South Africa
| Solar Inverter(KW) | Price |
| 4KW | R20,000-R27,000 |
| 6KW | R20,000-R35,000 |
| 8KW | R25,000-R40,000 |
| 12KW | R35,000-R55,000 |
| 20KW | R40,000-R70,000 |
| 50KW | R60,000-R80,000 |
| 80KW | R100,000-R130,000 |
Frequent Questions About South Africa Solar Installation
The price of a new solar panel in South Africa is R.2,400-R.600,000. Different size solar systems have different prices, for instance:
1. 400 Watts – R.3,200-R.4,000
2. 500 Watts – R.3,200-R.4,000
3. 600 Watts – R.3,800-R.4,500
4. 5,000 Watts – R.80,000-R.120,000
The price of installing a solar system is R.80,000-R.500,000 on average. The price varies depending on the following factors:
1. Size of the solar system: The larger the size, the more costs you will incur when installing, including hiring labour, transportation, and taxation.
2. Location: The price of installing a solar system in rural areas is higher than in urban centres because of the unavailability of providers.
5kw is enough to power a house with few electrical appliances. It also works in bigger houses but is more effective and lasts for shorter hours when used to power a small house. When 5kw is powering a small house, the house will remain powered for 10 hours or less, depending on the number of electrical appliances in this house.
The price of a 10kw solar system in South Africa is R.180,000-R.300,000. This price depends on the provider. Each provider has a different price for their solar system. This, however, does not mean that the most expensive providers have the best solar systems.
The price of a 5kw solar system in South Africa is R.80,000-R.120,000. The price of this system varies depending on the providers who price their plans differently. This is the average solar system size that is enough for lighting a small house.
The price of a 2kw solar system in South Africa is R.15,000-R.20,000. This system involves all the parts that make up a solar system. This system includes the following parts:
1. Solar panels.
2. Solar charging system.
3. Solar system inverter.
The cost of a solar battery in South Africa is R7,000-R80,000. The cost of solar batteries is determined by the power level they can hold after being fully charged. The following are the prices of solar batteries with different power levels in South Africa:
1. 2Kwh solar battery: R15,000-R24,000
2. 4Kwh solar battery: R24,000-R30,000
3. 6Kwh solar battery: R40,000-R50,000
4. 8Kwh solar battery: R60,000-R68,000
5.10Kwh solar battery: R60,000-R80,000
The cost of installing a solar system for a 2-bedroom house in South Africa is R100,000-R150,000 depending on the following factors:
1. Type of solar systems: Different solar systems from different suppliers are sold for different costs.
2. Location of buyer’s residence: Installing a solar system is more expensive in rural areas than urban centres.
Lithium-ion solar batteries are the best solar batteries in South Africa due to the following reasons:
1. They are long-lasting compared to other types of solar batteries.
2. They are easy to carry because of their low weight, which saves on transportation costs.
3. They recharge faster than other solar batteries and retain power for a long time.
A 5,000 Watt solar system in South Africa needs at least a 2,000 Amp battery to run correctly for at least 6 hours at night. The solar inverter needed to run a 5,000 Watt solar system in South Africa is a 5,000 Watt solar inverter.