How much does a solar installation cost?
A 5kVA system with a battery, installed and certificated, usually falls in the range below. Most of that figure is equipment, and equipment prices move with the rand and the supplier. If you are comparing installers, compare the installation and certificate price, listed separately here, because that is the part that is actually ours.
Booked call-outs from R750Emergencies from R2,500
What this costs
| Work | Price |
|---|---|
| 5kVA solar system with batteryPanels, hybrid inverter, battery, mounting and installation, with a CoC. | R95,000 – R150,000 |
| Installation and CoC onlyYou buy the panels, inverter and battery. We install, commission and certificate it. | R12,000 – R25,000 |
These are ranges, not quotes. Where your job falls in the range depends on what we find on site. We are not VAT registered, so there is no VAT to add. The price you are quoted is the price you pay.
Call-out rates
A booked visit goes into the next open slot. An emergency call-out is a separate priority service. Both are paid with a 50% deposit online, and the balance after inspection and your agreement.
| Time | Booked visit | Emergency call-out |
|---|---|---|
| Day07:00 – 18:00 | R750 | R2,500 |
| Night18:00 – 07:00 | R1,200 | R3,500 |
What moves the price
System size
Sized from your actual usage, not a guess. We would rather look at a year of bills than sell you more panels than you need.
Battery capacity
The most expensive single component, and the one most often oversized. How much you need depends on what you want running after dark.
Your roof
Pitch, direction, tile type and shading all change how many panels fit and how long mounting takes. North facing with good access is the easy case.
Equipment prices on the day
Panels, inverters and batteries are imported and priced in rands. A quote from three months ago is not a quote today.
Grid tie or off grid
Feeding back into the grid needs approved equipment and a municipal application, which adds cost and time.
How long it takes
Two to three days for a 5kVA system with a battery.
Included
- Design sized to your actual consumption
- Mounting, wiring, inverter and battery installation
- Commissioning and handover
- A Certificate of Compliance for the installation
Not included
- Roof repairs or strengthening, if the roof is not sound enough to mount on
- Municipal grid tie application fees where feeding back is wanted
- Backing up heavy loads unless the system is sized for them
Questions
Why do you quote the installation separately?
Because that is the honest way to compare installers. The equipment is much the same kit at much the same price wherever you buy it. What differs is who mounts it, wires it, commissions it and certificates it. Lead with the installation figure and you are comparing like with like.
Will solar get rid of my electricity bill?
Usually it reduces the bill rather than ends it. How much depends on your usage pattern, your system size and whether you are home during the day. We would rather show you a realistic number from your own bills than promise you zero.
Can I start with an inverter and add panels later?
Yes, and for a lot of households that is the sensible order. A hybrid inverter and battery solve load shedding now. Panels get added when the budget allows, as long as the inverter was sized with that in mind from the start.
Does a solar installation need a CoC?
Yes. It is an addition to your electrical installation and must be certified. It matters for your insurance too.
Is there VAT on top?
No. We are not VAT registered, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
Related services
- Solar installationSolar PV designed for your roof and usage, installed and signed off with a CoC.
- What backup power costsEssentials or whole home, and installation only if you buy the kit.
- Generator installationStandby generators, changeover switches, servicing and repairs.
- What a CoC costsWhat the inspection and certificate cost, and why repairs are priced separately.
We cover Johannesburg, Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Soweto, Midrand, Centurion, Pretoria, East Rand (Ekurhuleni), West Rand. Areas we cover
Need an electrician?
Book a day, night or emergency call-out online, or message us on WhatsApp.