The short answer to the question ‘are PV solar panels worth it’ is a resounding yes! The phenomenal growth of the solar industry in South Africa is testimony to the real value attached to switching from Eskom power to an eternal renewable source of energy, harvested freely from the sun.

Being a privileged country that enjoys more sunshine hours a year than most European countries, which are already deeply entrenched in using solar power instead of environmentally destructive coal-powered electricity, South Africans are investing more and more in PV solar panels as their source of power and hot water.

Are PV solar panels worth it

The cost benefits of switching to solar power for home owners and business owners are infinite once the payback period is over.

Though there are still many who are reluctant, due to the initial outlay for PV solar panels, with solar companies like Renaissance Solar in Cape Town doing all they can with finance options, it’s becoming easier and easier to step into a future free of high electricity bills.

The resulting cost-effectiveness, along with the real benefits to our environment has been the major force driving people to invest in solar products like never before.

Here’s a picture that speaks a thousand words about investing in solar energy!

Quality products approved by the City of Cape Town

Renaissance Solar deals in nothing but high quality solar products, bringing you full turn-key systems and tailored systems to suit every requirement, whether for residential, commercial or industrial applications.

On the menu with this professional team you’ll find Hybrid, Grid Tie and Off Grid Solar PV Systems, along with high quality solar hot water systems and solar geysers.

Rising electricity tariffs vs more affordable PV solar panels

Every time you get punched in the gut with yet another increase in electricity tariffs, PV solar panels are becoming more and more affordable!

There has been so much strain placed on families and businesses in the past two years, with the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, that electricity has in reality become a luxury for many.

Whatever it takes for you to invest in a PV solar system or solar hot water system, you can look forward to paying much less for electricity because you’ll be meeting your energy requirements from solar energy.

Just the addition of a solar hot water system will shave your electricity bill by up to 40%, if not more, helping to alleviate the additional pressure a failing economy has placed on us.

The payback period on PV solar panels

While it may be a real pinch financially to fork out for the installation of solar panels, there’s no doubt about the fact that the savings that begin from day one, go a long way to making the payback period lighter on your pocket than trying to keep up with exorbitant electricity tariffs!

Once your payback period is over you’ll be enjoying absolutely free energy, giving you savings in the long run that’ll make you eternally grateful for the step you took towards investing in a solar system.

The expert team at Renaissance Solar will make it easy for you to work out what kind of payback period you’ll be looking at, depending on the solar system you require.

They will show you how to gain maximum savings on your solar system, and, as mentioned above, they have a variety of financial offerings to cater to your energy requirements.

This also goes for larger installations, where Renaissance Solar has set up several funding models which include no capital layout. This is great inspiration for any homeowner or business owner to switch to solar energy!

Start the journey with Renaissance Solar today!

If you’ve decided to head into 2022 free from Eskom, chat to the down-to-earth team at Renaissance Solar, people who are passionate about seeing every roof in Cape Town playing host to PV solar panel arrays!

 

 

 

If you’re wondering which PV solar panels are best, Renaissance Solar is a great place to start. This team of solar experts in Cape Town has been changing lives with solar hot water systems and PV solar systems since 2009, giving them all the experience and knowledge necessary to make your foray into a future powered by solar energy easy.

The driving force behind this team is their commitment to providing clients with affordable solar hot water systems, without compromising in the least on quality.

Renaissance Solar is also committed to using a high proportion of local material in their solar products, giving them the opportunity to plow back into the Western Cape economy, as well as allowing them to maintain low prices in a growing, extremely competitive industry.

Talking local, Renaissance Solar products are all approved by the City of Cape Town and, they use only SABS-tested products for their installations, which come with great manufacturer warranties.

Any Renaissance Solar client will tell you that this team will give you the same sterling service you can expect to enjoy even after the installation of your PV solar system, or solar hot water system.

Which PV solar panels are best

There are two types of solar panels on the market today, with 2 different cell types, namely Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline panels.

While this sounds very complicated, you won’t be on your own when it comes to deciding which is the best PV solar panel for your home or business.

The team at Renaissance Solar will break down the technical terms involved in solar energy, to make it far easier for you to make informed decisions to meet all your energy needs.

These two types of cells will contribute to the price and efficiency of your solar panels, as well as where they will be used, such as for a home or for a commercial application.

Both of these types of solar panels have their place in the sun, depending on the application and on space constraints.

Monocrystalline solar panels

Monocrystalline solar panels are products of older solar technology, which, like a lot of things we use in daily life that last the longest because they’re still ‘old school’ keep going. They’re not manufactured to last just a year before needing to be replaced, as so much is these days.

If you happen to have a kettle that’s lasted over ten years, then you’ll know what is meant by older technology and the exceptional value it offers.

Instead of the fused together pieces of silicon that make up the Polycrystalline cells, the Monocrystalline panel is a single crystal structure, and, though more expensive than Polycrystalline panels, these panels are more efficient.

Less can be more in this case, as you’ll be able to use fewer panels to get maximum effectiveness. Monocrystalline panels are best suited to residential and commercial applications, as well as if you’re constrained by limited space, but are determined to invest in solar panels.

Durability and heat resistance is the hallmark of Monocrystalline solar panels, despite their expense per watt.

Polycrystalline solar panels

As new solar technology is produced to meet the growing demand for solar power, Polycrystalline solar panels are an example of this newer technology.

Less uniform in appearance than the Monocrystalline solar panels, the cells of these panels are pieces of silicon fused together, and, as solar technology explodes, they’re becoming cheaper all the time, if still a little less efficient than Monocrystalline panels.

This growth of solar technology means that Polycrystalline solar panels are cheaper per watt than Monocrystalline panels, and, though they provide a bit less power, they are becoming more and more efficient as time goes by.

Polycrystalline solar panels are the most affordable solar panels on the market and also offer long-lasting durability, which makes them the best choice for Grid Tie PV systems.

Renaissance Solar will help you decide which PV solar panels are best!

If you’re planning to invest in any solar system in Cape Town and within a 2-hour drive from the Mother City, contact Renaissance Solar to take these big words, along with the pros and cons of each, and simplify them into language you can understand, to make the best choice for your energy requirements!

 

Considering that your PV solar panels don’t require much maintenance at all, it’s not all that difficult to find out how to clean PV solar panels. The only problem you may face is that of height, and, if you don’t like heights, it’ll be easier on you to rope someone else in to give them a clean when it’s necessary.

If your PV solar panels are ground-mounted, it’s obviously going to be very easy to keep them clean. Where you live, or where your business is located will also have an impact on how often you may need to clean the solar panels, especially if they aren’t mounted with much of a tilt.

How to clean PV solar panels

Having PV solar panels in Cape Town can be a real bonus due to pretty regular rainfall and wind, which does help to minimize the buildup of dust, not to mention droppings left by pesky seagulls!

If, however, you live in a drier region, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by checking your solar panels at least once every six months, less if need be. If the solar panels are left with accumulated dirt for a long time, they can lose up to 25% of their efficiency if they’re not cleaned.

In the city and in industrial areas you’ll need to clean the solar panels pretty regularly, especially in the face of pollution such as oil and dirt, which is increased by commerce and manufacturing plants.

Will cleaning PV solar panels make a difference?

It’s well worth the time and mild effort it takes to clean your solar panels a few times a year, depending on the conditions mentioned above, making sure that you get the most out of what is one of the best investments today!

You want to get the most out of your PV solar system or solar water heating system, cashing in on the excellent ROI that solar panels with their 20+ year lifespan offer.

Tips for cleaning PV solar panels:

Suggestion; chat to the friendly team at Renaissance Solar about cleaning your solar panels. They’ll know all there is to know about the area in which you live and prevailing weather conditions, as well as how they may impact the solar panels.

* Use a soft broom or brush with extension to get rid of leaves and dust on the solar panels. You could also use one of those long window wipers to reach the more difficult corners of the panels.

 

* Your garden hose can do magic in terms of cleaning some of the grime that may have accumulated on the panels – don’t use a high-pressure hose!

 

* Don’t use any hard, harsh brushes or tools. This could scratch your solar panels, affect their lifespan and have a negative impact on their performance. This should be as close to a lifetime investment as you can come, making it worth tender loving care!

 

* Use a mild soap, but not too much of it, in slightly warm water to clean tough spots such as bird droppings. A soft sponge will do wonders if you drop some of the soapy water on the tough spots, leave for a few minutes and then wipe off.

 

* If you love the early morning hours as the sun begins to rise, head up to the roof and tackle the solar panels before it gets too hot.

Of course you’re going to need a ladder to get to the roof, but that’ll also be an excellent investment in keeping the solar panels healthy, and, as an added bonus, keeping an eye on the condition of your roof!

* Put a hat on, plenty of sunscreen and choose a cool, overcast day to clean solar panels that get extremely hot to the touch on sunny days. While you’re at it you may as well start dreaming about just how much space you have for even more PV solar panels in the future!

Contact Renaissance Solar in Cape Town for any further information you may need regarding solar hot water systems, cleaning and maintaining your solar panels, or planning the best PV solar system to suit your home or business energy requirements.

 

With an average of 2500 hours of sunshine every year in South Africa, it makes sense to take the first step towards solar energy by investing in a solar hot water system.

Once you’ve tasted the financial rewards that a solar hot water system will bring, you might feel more and more inclined towards moving even further off the grid.

Imagine a day when the only way you know that there’s load shedding, is when you go to a shop chugging along on a generator!

Now we know this bliss doesn’t come cheap, but it works out to a lot less at the end of the day when you’re able to heat your water with solar energy, and also keep vital appliances running safely through any load shedding.

For most of us the question ‘can solar PV heat water’ will arise, especially since heating water adds a huge chunk to your electricity bill, but that’s where we turn to dedicated professionals such as those at Renaissance Solar, to give us direction on our way to free hot water!

Can solar PV heat water

Absolutely yes! With solar PV panels heating your water, the average household of four can look at savings of up to 40% on your electricity bill, savings that’ll ultimately make the payback period far easier than might be thought.

Save on paying carbon tax!

If you’re a business owner, you’ll really score on every electricity bill, especially if you want to avoid paying a carbon tax imposed by the South African government, which is ‘committed to ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 42% by 2025’.

If you’re using above this percentage, you’ll be penalized, which goes for individuals and businesses. It’s really about changing consumer behavior in a climate that’s perfect for perpetual solar energy.

Time to make the change!

With 2022 a few weeks away, it’s time to make the change to solar water heating systems, Hybrid, Grid Tie or Off Grid PV systems, because when the lights go out for longer than your home or business can handle, it’ll be too late!

PV solar panels help attract buyers

If you want your home to be attractive to buyers, there’s no doubt that solar panels on your roof could be the tipping point in selling your home, enticing buyers with the option of free hot water and free solar energy, if you’ve installed a PV solar system.

Components of a solar water heating system

A solar water heating system comprises of a geyser and a solar panel, it’s that simple.

The team at Renaissance Solar will work with you to determine exactly what your hot water requirements will be, refining this to the point where you’ll know exactly how many solar panels you’ll need, as well as what size geyser you’ll need.

This team is passionate about service excellence for their clients, and go above and beyond to assist you in making informed decisions about everything to do with solar energy.

Quality service, quality products & quality backup service!

When you choose Renaissance Solar to guide you into a future that offers you free hot water, you can have absolute confidence in this team to have your best interests at heart.

They’ll take your budget into account, as they work with you to find the best solar water heating solution to meet all your hot water needs, whether at home or at your business.

Contact this passionate team today if you’re planning to invest in a solar hot water system in Cape Town; they’ll make it simpler and easier for you to step into uncharted territory!