Our loadshedding crisis began in late 2007 when South Africa experienced rolling blackouts. Eskom, in early 2008, introduced load-shedding to “protect the integrity of the grid”. This, after in 2007, Eskom warned that, over the next five or six years, the system would be constrained and called for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to minimise the likelihood of power interruptions.<\/p>\n
And here we are 15 years later and the situation has become even more dire. So, we could conceivably expect to suffer this crisis for another 15 years whilst solutions are sought to end loadshedding.<\/p>\n
Now in 2023 we are, on certain days, subject to three bouts of loadshedding in a 24 hour period and, if those occur in periods when Solar PV production is lowest – evening to early morning then the backup power that we have available struggles to keep up and stay charged.<\/p>\n
“Effectively, we have moved from a situation where a solar installation could cope with a 2.5 kW Lion battery for those infrequent times we found ourselves without power, to a situation where a 5 kW Lion Battery is enough to cope. BUT if those dreaded three bouts of loadshedding increase a much higher battery storage capacity of around 10 kWh will be needed,” says Straton Solar. *<\/p>\n
“Of course we have many clients who do NOT have to upgrade their systems – the ones with enough foresight to have installed 14 kW Powerwalls from Tesla<\/a>,” says Straton.<\/p>\n In most municipalities the sweet spot installation was a 5K Inverter, a 2.5 kWh Lion Battery and 5 kW’s of Solar PV panels. Now the demand has gone one further and Straton Solar have developed a turnkey standard system price for a 5 kW inverter, a 5 kWh Lion Batteries and 5 kW of Solar Panels<\/a> – hence the 5×5<\/a> Product Name.<\/p>\n Straton Solar<\/a> are offering clients in the Nelson Mandela Bay area the complete supply and installation their 5×5 Package<\/a> which consists of: a Sunsynk Sun 5.5k Hybrid inverter, Earth Neutral Bridge for AC Protection, 10 x Tier 1 545W PV Panels, all Aluminium Mounting Structure, PV String wiring, connectors including surge protection and earthing, Battery disconnect fuse switch, LFP Wall Mount Sunsynk Battery 5.32 kWh 51.2V, AC installation for single phase hybrid inverter including surge protection (3kW to 6kW), Certificate of Compliance and completion of smart meter application forms all for R172 467.93 including VAT (Terms and Conditions Apply<\/a>). Payment Terms are 20% with order, 60% of the total on the day that equipment is delivered and the balance on completion. Standard warranties apply and remote access and monitoring is included. **<\/p><\/blockquote>\n *<\/strong> Consider that the average household in South Africa consumes 960 kWh of electricity per month – that is equal to 1.33 units per hour (obviously more in the peak periods for cooking and washing and lighting and less in the day when no-one is at home). Should you be unlucky enough to be loadshed from 6 to 8:30 pm and again in the early hours of the morning from 6 to 8:30 am then those 5 hours could represent 6.66 units of electricity which, will drain a 5 kWh battery. So, if you need longer times with electricity you may need to add another 5.32 kWh LFP battery or just bite the bullet and install a Tesla Powerwall.<\/p>\n **<\/strong> The 5×5 Package is also available for smaller businesses who could secure a positive ROI on the system from Day 1<\/em> if they utilise Section 12B of the Income Tax which allows for a 100% depreciation allowance on any renewable energy installation from day of commissioning.<\/p>\n If you are in Cape Town and wishing to sell back into the grid then you will do well to consider doubling up on the size of your inverter and panels. The rule of thumb for almost zeroing your consumption account is that for every 900 units of on site electricity consumption you will need a 5K inverter and panels. Double that consumption will mean doubling the installation size and so on.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let’s first warn sensitive readers that we will be using two South African swear words extensively in this article: Eskom and Loadshedding. If you have a weak heart or are prone to uncontrolled bursts of anger when things go wrong then please move on and read gentler tomes such as War and Peace or watch […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6236","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-solar","8":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Alan","author_link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/author\/alan\/"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5HvVd-1CA","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6234,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/press-release-the-huge-hidden-cost-to-eskom-of-loadshedding\/","url_meta":{"origin":6236,"position":0},"title":"Press Release: The HUGE Hidden Cost to Eskom of Loadshedding","author":"Alan","date":"20 February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Is a figure of R130 Million per month too low or too high? Is this sustainable when a business is already in crisis? We are all familiar with the fact that loadshedding is expensive - for the country, its economy and our global reputation. We aslo need to stop and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Eskom_Candle_Power.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Eskom_Candle_Power.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Eskom_Candle_Power.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Eskom_Candle_Power.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6208,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/press-release-how-to-cut-the-eskom-umbilical-cord\/","url_meta":{"origin":6236,"position":1},"title":"Press Release: How to Cut the Eskom Umbilical Cord","author":"Alan","date":"20 February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\"If you are planning a 'divorce' from Eskom then you need to do lots of investigation and planning,\" says Alan Straton. When it comes to the provision of electricity to a smaller home or business the first choice was always to be connected to the grid. Now the advent of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/20151016_Ground_Based_Solar_Panels-700x466.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/20151016_Ground_Based_Solar_Panels-700x466.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/20151016_Ground_Based_Solar_Panels-700x466.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/20151016_Ground_Based_Solar_Panels-700x466.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6076,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/reasons-why-loadshedding-is-not-going-away-anytime-soon\/","url_meta":{"origin":6236,"position":2},"title":"Reasons Why Loadshedding is NOT Going Away Anytime Soon","author":"Alan","date":"26 July 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"South Africa has been using rolling blackouts also known as load shedding, to conserve electricity since the year 2008 however the current outrages have been intense, with hours ranging from two hours a day to 8 hours or more. 7 Reasons why load shedding is here to stay: Continuous recent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/alexander-popov-ybTDe5cF0ag-unsplash-1250x833.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/alexander-popov-ybTDe5cF0ag-unsplash-1250x833.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/alexander-popov-ybTDe5cF0ag-unsplash-1250x833.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/alexander-popov-ybTDe5cF0ag-unsplash-1250x833.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/alexander-popov-ybTDe5cF0ag-unsplash-1250x833.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6240,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/press-release-are-you-really-off-grid\/","url_meta":{"origin":6236,"position":3},"title":"Press Release: Are you really “Off-Grid”?","author":"Alan","date":"20 February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"How Much does an Off-Grid System Cost? The difference between Off-Grid and Grid-Tie Do you know what type of solar system you have installed? Of the 4 types of solar systems available which one give the best ROI? Which Solar System SHOULD be incentivised FIRST by government? Beleaguered South African\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Solar Turtle","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Solar_Turtle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Solar_Turtle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Solar_Turtle.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Solar_Turtle.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6192,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/press-release-the-cost-of-loadshedding-systems\/","url_meta":{"origin":6236,"position":4},"title":"Press Release: The Cost of Loadshedding Systems","author":"Alan","date":"20 February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Choose your 'flavour' to avoid loadshedding from R500 to R260 000 Find out how a Solar Installation for your business will result in an immediate payback on your capex spend. Today Eskom implemented rotational load shedding from Tuesday to Thursday saying that they would endeavour to keep the lights on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Tesla_Powerwall_Certified_Installer.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Tesla_Powerwall_Certified_Installer.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Tesla_Powerwall_Certified_Installer.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Tesla_Powerwall_Certified_Installer.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":193,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/failing-the-poor\/","url_meta":{"origin":6236,"position":5},"title":"Failing the poor","author":"Alan","date":"13 January 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The current meltdown over at Eskom is pretty horrifying to watch: it seems like every day another generator goes offline, and now we hear that because the state-owned supplier has been burning through its diesel reserves in an attempt to keep the power on, it\u2019s about to run out of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6236"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6237,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6236\/revisions\/6237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid-scaled.jpg\")
\nThe 5×5 Sunsynk Solar Hybrid Package and Installation from Straton Solar. Photo: Straton Solar<\/p>\n