Affordable PV Solar Systems available at Renaissance Solar in Cape Town

The gross mismanagement and corruption that has become synonymous with Eskom, has led to a future that looks like this, where in just one case that has finally come to court, corruption to the tune of R745m has come to light.

Sadly, this is just one of the multitude of corruption cases against Eskom this year alone, and those it has been involved with over the years. These are the same people that have been responsible for the fact that this power giant with absolute monopoly has held South Africans over a barrel with load shedding that looks set never to end.

In fact, the CEO of Eskom has stated categorically that we can look forward to load shedding for the next 18 months to come, at least! The question here is, are you up for inconvenience and high expenditure (up 30% at least by the April 2022) or neither?

We may not be able to rely on our power supply from this giant, but, we can rely on the fact that the sun will continue to shine eternally, supplying solar-powered homes and businesses with electricity every day of every year, without fail!

We will never be able to recover the excessive electricity tariffs we have been paying over the years, but, by choosing to invest in solar energy, we can be absolutely sure that the returns on an investment like this will be exceptional, and well worth the initial outlay.

If, for instance, it takes you 4 years to repay a solar installation, at the end of those 4 years, you’ll be looking at a future in which the lights will stay on, irrespective of load shedding, and, a future in which Eskom no longer takes food off your table, just to keep the lights on.

Should you decide to start off small, with a solar water heating system, you’ll already be shaving up to 40% off your electricity bill every month, which is money we can all do with in an unstable economy that doesn’t look set to recover for the foreseeable future.

The beauty of starting off this way, is that you can, at a later stage, begin to add more solar panels, should you decide to move even further away from your reliance on the grid, depending on the solar system you choose to upgrade to.

Whether you choose to move off the grid completely or retain a certain amount of reliance on the grid, such as it is, you won’t find a better way of being prepared for a future that’ll see electricity become an unreliable luxury.

At Renaissance Solar in Cape Town, you can rely on a team of experts who go to bat in terms of making solar products affordable, driven by a commitment to excellence and customer service that makes this solar company a pleasure to deal with.

We all know that budgets have been hit very hard, however, if there is any way that makes it possible for you to start lowering what you’re paying for electricity, by exploring your options in terms of solar energy, then this is the team to talk to.

Renaissance Solar is about people, quality solar products and a commitment to service delivery second to none. In over ten years in the industry, with a sterling reputation for after-sales service as well, you’ll be dealing with a team of experts you can rely on for honest advice and down-to-earth guidance.

Contact Renaissance Solar today to break the stranglehold that Eskom has on your wallet, and to find out more about a variety of financial offerings available to meet your needs.

 

Are you ready for devastating Eskom tariff increases over the next 3 years?

The possibility that electricity is on a fast track to becoming something only the very wealthy will be able to afford, that it would become a luxury rather than a necessity for ordinary South African households, finally arrived in a high court judgement on 29 July 2020, in favour of shattering Eskom tariff increases for the next three years. One shudders to think of what is to come after that!

In an economy we all know had already reached junk status before the arrival of COVID-19, it boggles the mind that anyone can think that with millions of South African’s being left jobless, any family can absorb the increases coming for the next three years.

In the words of energy expert, Chris Yelland in an article in Times Live, ‘the increase in electricity price for the next 3 years, starting on April 1 2021 (not too far off!) will have an additional 10% over and above whatever other price increase was decided by Nersa!’

As an example, the current price increase determined for April 1 2021 stands currently at 5.3%, but, with this judgement, we’re looking at a price increase that’ll be at least 15.3% instead of 5.3%! And this is the minimum increase we can be facing from next year!

How families and businesses are supposed to be able to recover their lives and incomes, with COVID-19 still hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles, is almost impossible to imagine right now.

If ever there was a time for South Africans to invest in solar energy, the time is now! 

Had any of us been able to see into a future where a giant like Eskom would take food off the table of its own people, through corruption and mismanagement on this scale, we’d all have invested in, at the very least, a solar hot water system, ten years ago!

Here’s an undisputed fact; as electricity tariffs have increased, the cost of solar panels and many other solar products have come down, and they keep decreasing, as more and more families and businesses opt for solar systems, whether in the form of solar hot water systems, Hybrid and Grid Tie PV (Photo Voltaic) Systems or heat pumps.

Whatever our financial positions are right now, we’re still paying a small fortune for electricity to an entity that gives nothing back, instead of finding the most creative ways to raise the finance to invest in a solar system, one that’ll keep giving back for over 25 years! 

As long as it’s not robbing your local bank, there can be no better investment in the future health of your bank account and our environment, than one that goes into solar energy!

As in any industry, there are the good guys and the bad guys in the solar industry, but, if you’re looking for a solar company in Cape Town that has a track record for down-to-earth honesty, and a policy of doing all they can to help their clients to invest in affordable solar products, then you’re at the right place here with Renaissance Solar!

The intentions of this team of experts since 2009, has been to provide affordable solar hot water systems and PV Systems (Hybrid and Grid Tie) to their clients, and their reputation now speaks for itself if one just looks at what some of these clients have to say about this awesome team.

If you’d prefer a brighter future than the one that Eskom has in store for us, speak to the team at Renaissance Solar to find out more about how to start out on the road to totally free energy!

 

Eskom places a further economic strain on South Africans in the midst of COVID-19 with tariff hike

At a time when many South Africans are still unable to return to work due to COVID-19, Eskom has just implemented a tariff hike of 8.76% for Eskom direct customers and an additional 6.9% for municipal customers.

Many small to medium businesses have taken serious knocks during lockdown, with many having to shut their doors, while even more people have lost their income, all of which happened without warning, and now this hike!

Will this mean nights of torchlight and candlelight, showers that can only be afforded every third day, in order to keep food on the table and still have electricity?

When you’re weighing up the cost of electricity from Eskom, and the cost of installing solar panels, you’d be best served by knowing that Eskom will still be fighting for a massive 16% increase this financial year and even worse, they want a 45% increase to be implemented over the next three years.

Though Nersa granted them only a 22.3% hike, Eskom is going back to taking further legal action to get their own way and cripple the economy even further for us average Joe’s.

This is definitely the time you need the solar experts at Renaissance Solar on your side, to bring clarity to what it really costs to install solar panels, a PV solar system or solar geyser, in comparison with what you will continue to pay with each tariff hike from Eskom in the foreseeable future.

This is the time to get off the fence and make the choice for solar power if you prefer to spend your money on a worthwhile payback period for a solar system, rather than throwing good money after bad with exorbitant electricity tariff increases.

Watching the worsening energy crises in South Africa, the team at Renaissance Solar couldn’t possibly be more passionate about helping families to invest hard earned cash into solar energy.

They know the true value of an investment in solar energy and meet their customers halfway, working hard to make it possible for their customers to move to solar power, without breaking the bank.

Renaissance Solar has been supplying solar power systems in Cape Town for 11 years already, making them the trusted go-to team for solar solutions that range from solar hot water systems, Hybrid and Grid-tie PV systems as well as heat pumps.

The focus of this team is on quality solar products, reliability and integrity, along with a commitment to superb back-up service, making Renaissance Solar a company that is easy to approach and to trust with a major investment like this.

Whether you need a few solar panels for a small home or an entire roof of panels at your commercial premises, Renaissance Solar will deliver. Great news is that they not only install solar systems in Cape Town itself, but also extend their services to any area 2 hours out of the city.

Break free from perpetual electricity tariff increases and contact this awesome team to find out more about just how much solar power will change your life, as well as how to go about planning the right system to meet your power requirements.

Skyrocketing electricity rates post COVID-19 won’t be any prettier than they are now

Economies have crashed, millions of jobs have been lost, and nations across the globe have woken up to a completely different world on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic…and it’s not going to recover overnight, irrespective of vaccines and other measures that may finally put an end to it.

First world countries with hitherto stable economies are suddenly battling, but, few of these can relate to what has happened to South Africans with an already embattled economy declared junk status on top of it all.

Our people were struggling to keep head above water in an economy that was already weak before this the double whammy of junk status and COVID-19, but, what others don’t have to deal with worldwide, is a power giant which is crumbling and which has complete monopoly, and with it, a total stranglehold on households simply trying to keep the lights on.

Being lulled into a false sense of security based on the fact that there has been no load shedding recently, is just that, false security. However, black outs will return and sadly, along with these, will be electricity rates that can do no more than to escalate right out of reach of struggling households, many of whom have lost at least one income.

When the cost is counted by the time businesses may start opening again, electricity will be a luxury, and in the wake of this, the option of installing solar panels, solar hot water systems or PV systems will make more sense than ever before…and solar energy has always made sense!

It can’t be stressed enough that prices on solar panels alone are consistently decreasing, along with many other components, as developers and manufacturers keep pushing the envelope in terms of solar technology.

It’s going to take a bite out of your budget right now, but, opting for solar power on any level, even if just to install a solar geyser or solar water heating system, will be an investment that will continue paying exceptional dividends for at the least 20 to 25 years.

Count up what it costs just to heat water in your home or business, and then weigh it up against a payback period of between 3 – 4 years (depending on the size of course), and the decision will be a lot more palatable to make.

Think of it this way; you pay a hefty chunk of change for electricity every month but get absolutely nothing back, and then think about what you get at the end of your payback period; free hot water, and/or power for the foreseeable future!

Although physical doors remain closed for now during lockdown, if you’re thinking about making the switch to solar, speak to the awesome team of experts at Renaissance Solar. They are passionate about solar power and they’ll help you to lay the groundwork for breaking the stranglehold Eskom has on you. They also may just be one of the business categories allowed to operate during Level 4 – so watch the news.

Experience and a great reputation make this a team you can trust with your investment. They supply only the best in SABS approved solar products, and, through their commitment to service excellence, they’ll make sure you’re able to make informed decisions based on honest to goodness, down to earth guidance.

Not much else may be working right now, but the phones and internet still are, which means there’ll always be a member of the team at Renaissance Solar on standby to answer any of your questions, so, whether you’re looking at a solar water heating system or PV solar system in Cape Town, Renaissance Solar is ready to serve!

Choosing who to trust with your investment in solar energy

The only people in South Africa who have remained unaffected by load shedding courtesy of the dying throes of our power giant Eskom, are those who have already been living off the grid for at least the last 5 years.

2019 saw us plummet to stage six load shedding for the first time since we were forced to adjust personal and business lives to an unreliable supply of electricity, and, it doesn’t bode well for the future. Now we are told it’s Stage 4 till further notice!!

This is real life, not an alarmist’s tale designed to get you to rush out and buy into solar energy, any which way you can. It’s grounded in fact and in experience, which is why it’s worth planning on getting out from under this inconsistent power supply that knocks us for six just as we think we may be out in the light again.

Remember those guys who tried to get our attention way back when no one knew anything about climate change? The ones most considered to be a little batty to say the least? Well, they don’t look so batty anymore, more’s the pity, because back then we may have been able to curb our misuse of our planet’s resources a lot more than what we have.

And where’s our excuse for hanging around on the periphery of all that solar power has to offer us? Well it’s definitely not our climate! We have more than enough sunshine to keep the power up and running with ease, even during the winter season.

It’s too expensive? That’s taken a flier out the window too! Solar panels come down in price faster than Eskom rates go up, and weighed on that scale, you have to know that even with a pretty steep initial investment, solar beats an expensive and unstable supply of electricity hands down.

When you invest in something as foundational as a solar water heating system in Cape Town, you’re already starting to shave off up to 50% of your electricity bill every month, leaving you with more in the bank that can be better used elsewhere.

It’s also an investment you can trust to last up to and beyond 25 years, giving you absolutely free hot water for every year after the payback period is done.

Selling a house that already has a solar hot water system installed pushes up the market price of your home significantly today. People want to move into a home that is already semi-detached from Eskom and the grid, adding real resale value to your property, residential or commercial.

You can start with the installation of a solar hot water system, and, with time, migrate to a Grid Tie or Hybrid PV system that’ll have you breaking the shackles that tie you to one electricity supplier that doesn’t have a rosy future.

It’s knowing who to trust with your investment that counts!

Renaissance Solar brings experience to solar hot water systems, Hybrid and Grid Tie PV systems of quality in Cape Town., working in collaboration with local suppliers who manufacture products that are of unquestionable quality and reliability, in order to make sure that your investment will be one that brings you the best return far into the future.

They’ve been around since 2009 and intend to be around a lot longer than that, to make sure they can step back one day and survey a Cape Town that is proliferated with solar panels that stand the test of time, under their proud name.

It’s about changing the lives of their customers for the better, and contributing to the health of our environment, not to mention our hopes for a greener South Africa into the future.

This is one area in which we can still be thankful to be a bit of a backwater when it comes to lagging behind the rest of the world – we simply didn’t have enough ‘stuff’ to mess it up as completely as the rest have!

Change what electricity rates do to your bank balance and plan for a consistently brighter future for your family by contacting the awesome team at Renaissance Solar, they’ll help to make your investment count, in the very long run!

 

 

If you’d like solar hot water systems demystified by experts, contact Renaissance Solar

You can either sit across from a solar energy salesman, going cockeyed because you don’t understand a word she/he’s saying, and they are so in the groove of the technicalities that they don’t even realise that you’ve glazed over completely, or, you can speak to the experts at Renaissance Solar who have no need to complicate an already complicated subject.

They have absolute empathy for anyone coming in off the street, with no prior knowledge or experience of anything solar, barring that it comes from the sun, giving of their time and knowledge to simplify a process that will shave off up to 50% off your Eskom bill monthly.

That, and the fact that solar energy is a step closer to respecting and protecting our environment, is what it’s all about for this team.

Renaissance Solar has put over ten years into providing quality solar water heating systems and solar geysers to clients at greater than fair prices, ensuring that although they’ve made solar geysers affordable, they’ve also maintained a total commitment to quality products.

Here are a few of the questions you might like to line up ahead of chatting to the team (of course you don’t need any lined up, just to call and pick these brains!)

The bare basics

All you want is to know more or less how a solar water heating system works, so for a start, comfort yourself with the knowledge that at the bare minimum, all you need is the solar geyser and the attending solar panel that’ll absorb the heat of the sun and turn it magically into hot water. The rest, well, that’s what Renaissance Solar is there for!

The real technicalities can safely be left in the hands of these experts, who will reduce it all to a bite size that you’ll be able to digest easily.

In the end all you really want is to have free hot water by the time you’ve reached the end of the two or three year payback period, isn’t it?

Size of the solar geyser?

This will depend solely on the size of your family, but they’re available in 150lt, 200lt and 300lt capacities, and, finding out what size or combination of panels you’ll need to suit the size of your geyser will be something this team will be happy to demystify for you.

Direct or indirect system?

If you live in an area that is frost-free, a direct system will be best for you. It moves the water directly from the solar collector to the geyser, whereas an indirect system, best for frost areas, employs a heat transfer liquid like anti-freeze to act as a conduit between the solar collector and the heat exchanger in a solar geyser, delivering hot water despite frost.

What about winter?

Well, winter in South Africa is a hundred times better than that of Europe for instance, which means you can relax and know that the water will still be hot when clouds and rain obscure the sun!

If they can do it, we most certainly can, and we can even thumb our noses at them from the tip of Africa!

Will the water be hot enough?

Absolutely! A SWH system can easily heat your water to 60 degrees Celsius and more, which is scalding, so take care in the heat of summer. In general, we are comfortable in the shower at 42 degrees Celsius, which makes for a happy family all round!

What about maintenance?

You won’t be spending extra money or time on maintenance with your Renaissance Solar SWH system. A good service once every few years will keep your system healthy and in good shape for longer than you could anticipate, and, you’ll have the kind of backup service from this team that is priceless.

Other questions?

There will be those that touch on your budget, how long the system will last, how much you’ll save and what the payback period will be depending on the size of system you have installed, but these are all points that’ll come up immediately when you meet with the team at Renaissance Solar, without you having to wrack your brains.

Whatever it is that you need to know to make the switch to solar energy, whether it’s a SWH, Hybrid and Grid Tie PV System or heat pump, these are the experts in the field who make life easier for those of us ready to leap into the future of green energy!

The advantages of solar water heating systems in South Africa

If all it takes is just two minutes of sun to provide the world with one year’s worth of energy, for the whole of humanity, imagine just how fortunate we are to be living in sunny South Africa!

Europe ahead of South Africa

Most areas in Europe only have around a thousand hours of sun per year, yet they’re are far ahead of South Africa in terms of installing a huge majority of the world’s solar energy systems.

The move towards solar energy is increasing every year in South Africa, but we can definitely do with a lot more solar panels being in evidence on our rooftops to catch up with the less fortunate countries in the world.

Solar radiation average comparison

The following comparison should make us seriously question why Europe would be so far ahead of South Africa in the solar energy stakes; they are as follows –

South Africa 220W/m2

USA 150W/m2

Europe and UK 100 W/m2

Based on these comparisons, let’s look at what solar water heating (SWH) systems can do for South African households.

Hot water; the highest energy consumer in homes

Considering that heating water is responsible for the highest consumption of power in the average home, this is the place that most who’ve moved to solar energy have placed their investment.

And an investment it is, one that initially seems pretty steep, but that comes with great benefits and payback periods that are getting shorter by the year as solar panels come down in price.

If a SWH system provides you with up to 80% of your hot water needs, what does that say about the exorbitant electricity costs you’re paying now, and getting nothing back in return?

We certainly don’t have a stable supply of electricity in our country, and unless you’re comfortable with having your hot showers interrupted by blackouts, a solar hot water heating system is a guarantee of a warm shower, even if it’s by candlelight!

The basics of what you need to move to a SWH system

  • Solar collectors- flat plate panel or evacuated tubes
  • Storage tank – geyser
  • Timer – to manage your system and show you the temperature
  • Pump – only if geyser is below the panel

While this looks very simple, the fact is that we need people who are on the cutting edge of solar energy in South Africa to help us put them together, to help us understand exactly what we need, and then to install a system that works as it should, and will last as long as promised, and beyond!

Renaissance Solar in Cape Town comes to the rescue

The focus at Renaissance Solar has always been to provide affordable, quality solar hot water systems in Cape Town, putting at the service of clients their knowledge and commitment to quality products, without reservation.

What this means, in essence, is that you’ll have a team on your side that has over 10 years’ experience to bring to the table when you decide to step out  from under the yoke of exorbitant electricity costs, and into the future with an investment in a solar water heating system.

As one of only twelve solar hot water installation companies accredited by the City of Cape Town, it’s clear that the standard of service and level of installations carried out by Renaissance Solar will meet all the criteria that make them a company worth trusting with your investment.

No challenge too big or too small

Renaissance Solar is no shrinking violet when it comes to the size of hot water systems or PV solutions they are able to offer. After 10 years in the industry, this team has the infrastructure to install the best in solar solutions, no matter how big or small the challenge is.

Whether it’s a solar hot water system for your home or a large commercial installation you’re planning, rest assured that Renaissance Solar has everything needed to deliver all that’s expected, and more!

Make sure that you’re on the cutting edge of all the advantages that solar water heating systems offer by contacting Renaissance Solar today. Let this friendly, knowledgeable team offer you all the support you deserve as you transition to solar energy.

3 Excellent Reasons To Invest In A Solar Geyser In 2020

South Africans are sick and tired of load shedding. We pay ridiculous rates for a subpar service by a service provider that’s about as reliable as the weather in Cape Town.

If you’re looking for an alternative solution for your hot water supply, solar might be the answer. Solar geysers are awesome, here’s why.

 

Cuts Your Electricity Bill in Half

As I’ve mentioned before, we pay ridiculously high rates for our electricity. Some areas pay as high as R2 per unit. The average household spends around R1200 to R2000 per month on electricity, depending on which appliances they use daily. Imagine only having to pay half of your bill. Who knows what you could do with the rest!

 

Solar Geysers Generate Hot Water Even When Overcast

If you think solar power can only be generated when the sun is shining, think again. Even when it’s overcast, the rays of the sun reach the solar panels, thus producing energy. South African is the perfect country for solar power because we receive a generous amount of sunshine throughout the year.

 

Solar Is the Future

Solar has become the preferred method of water heating in many new homes as more building contractors include solar geysers systems. Solar is extremely environmentally friendly and one of the most reliable sources of energy. Additionally, it seems Eskom needs all the help it can get to take the strain of their grid.

You are missing out on massive savings every month if you haven’t installed a solar water heating system in your home yet. Just think about what you could do with an extra R1000 to spend as you please instead of wasting it on unreliable service.

It all starts with a simple solar geyser installation. Don’t hesitate to speak to the team at Renaissance Solar if you have any questions. Give us a call for a free quote today!