Shedding light on solar installation

As the country continues to experience the untenable rising cost of power and ongoing load shedding, more and more residents are turning to solar power for their energy generation.

We speak to Hauwei’s Quintin Zeeman to give us some insight into how to go about finding the best solution for your home, estate or development.

A ray of light for solar power generation

We look at solar power in the home and give you the low-down on everything you need to know to get yourself up and running more efficiently.

As load shedding continues to be the bane in the life of everyday South Africans, more and more homeowners are turning to solar installation as a way of combating the dreaded power cuts.

With the rapid growth of PV solution installation, we are finding, in our community environments, a growing trend of people being disappointed with the results of their solar investment.

Whether it is a lack of capacity generation, incorrect needs assessments and poor workmanship from an installation side or simply the lack of accessible information available for homeowners to make the right decision, the costs are rising.

So we sit down with Quintin Zeeman, project manager at Hauwei’s Southern Africa FusionSolar Smart PV Department, to get some insight into what ordinary South Africans should look for in a comprehensive at-home solar solution. Given the cost of solar power in the home, homeowners can be forgiven for looking at inexpensive routes to solar power generation, but are you actually saving money if the outcome is a lot less than desired?

What homeowners should look for in a quality solar installation

Accreditation checks

It is imperative to ensure that you are working with a qualified professional. South Africans are nothing if not resourceful, and the number of fly-by-night installers who have popped up to meet the solar installation demand is astounding. Always ensure that your chosen service provider has the correct credentials. Certification by the Electrical Contractors Association or the PV Green-Card Forum is non-negotiable.

Site assessment

A certified and professional installer will come to your home and perform a comprehensive site assessment. This will include a load analysis, which will be a series of questions asked to ascertain what your generation capacity should be. Far too often, people have high expectations and have been left disappointed when their capacity is not sufficient. A comprehensive site assessment and load analysis will ensure that you and the contractor are on the same page.

Structural integrity assessment

You will also need to perform a Structural Integrity Assessment. The main questions asked, among others, should be: Is the roof structure secure enough to handle the load of the solar panels? What is the body corporate’s stipulation when it comes to solar panels and wires?

Manufacturer integrity

It is just as essential to ensure that you are asking the right questions when it comes to the choice of products available.

Critical things to look out for are manufacturer warranty, system life expectancy, and what backup services the manufacturer provides, if any. Additionally, you may find that your needs change over time, and you may want to expand on your current solution. Is your chosen product scalable, and can you upgrade the system at a later stage? Some systems do not have this ability and should be avoided at all costs.

Other points to remember

It is always a good idea to remember that storage is just as necessary as power generation, so be sure to check that your battery is of the best quality that you can afford. An investment of this size will not only improve your quality of life but also add value to your home, so it should not be seen as a quick fix for as cheap as possible.

It is also worth noting that there are some companies out there that offer financing on your solar installations, so doing your homework is imperative to ensure that you get the best deal available.

What is a solar installation protocol, and how do estate managers navigate the complexities of a solar installation protocol rollout?

With residents turning to solar solutions to combat rising energy costs and continued load shedding, estate managers, directors and trustees are asking themselves what roles and responsibilities the Homeowners Association (HOA)  or Body Corporate (BC)  has when it comes to an individual homeowner’s PV installation, outside of just following the architectural guidelines and contractor’s procedures.

Should an estate manager’s role go further than that? With the risk of homeowners being taken for a solar installation ride by the fly-by-night installers, should estates be more vigilant as to whom they trust to complete an installation?

Where to start

If a community is looking to install PV solutions that will provide power to common areas, or if an HOA wishes to create a policy for homeowners to adhere to when installing PV solutions in their private homes, Zeeman recommends starting from the very beginning. Before a tender is even sent out, an independent contractor should be called to do a site inspection. Estate managers can find these independent contractors on the PV GreenCard website. An inspector will come and do an in-depth analysis or ‘spec’ of the project’s potential. Once you have the spec, you can put the project out for tender.

There are two aspects to this ‘spec’. The first is to identify the facilities and buildings that need a solar solution. Clubhouses, security gates and all support buildings need to be taken into consideration when coming up with a solar installation plan. The second aspect is coming up with a job spec or solar installation protocol for the homeowner to follow.

With so many homeowners relying on a mere Google search for the installation of their solar power solutions, it is only understandable that there have been some nasty surprises when the end result has been less than desired.

Assisting homeowners to make better decisions

A well-put-together solar installation protocol details the general capacity needs of different homes across the estate, and outlines the structural and architectural guidelines of the project to be in line with the estate’s aesthetics and building codes. It is important to vet certified installers beforehand or make recommendations.

One such recommendation would be to use a PV Green-Card-certified installer, as they have the expertise and certifications necessary to execute the job. It is important to note that in most cases the hardware, batteries, PV panels and invertors, etc., have a guarantee, which requires proof that an accredited installer was used on the project.

The PV GreenCard programme is a private sector quality initiative led by SAPVIA; a PV GreenCard holder is an installer, consultant or company that has undergone training and is certified.

As it becomes more and more necessary for homeowners associations to take the lead in this rapidly expanding industry, we are sure to see many more estates look to experts like Zeeman and his team to guide them through the process.

One thing is for certain – with no end in sight to the ongoing problem that is load shedding, investing in a solid solar solution across your estate makes it a key utility.