Are you considering installing solar power in South Africa? Learn the rules and regulations you need to know before making the switch to renewable energy.
As the demand for renewable energy continues to rise, more and more South Africans are turning to solar power as a means of reducing their reliance on Eskom’s national grid. Whether driven by a desire to escape ever-increasing price hikes, a need for a reliable power supply free from load-shedding interruptions, or a commitment to using cleaner energy, the installation of solar systems has become increasingly popular. However, as Elite Risk, a specialist high net worth insurer and subsidiary of Old Mutual Insure, highlights, there are several pitfalls that homeowners should be aware of before installing solar power in order to ensure compliance with regulations and avoid issues with insurers down the line.
According to Elite Risk managing director Tarina Vlok, one of the most significant issues that homeowners may encounter is that the installation of solar geyser systems differs immensely from that of an electrical system and is subject to strict regulations. “We often have to reject claims or are unable to replace geysers because the previous installation did not comply with the regulation,” Vlok noted.
To avoid such issues, Vlok encouraged homeowners to ensure that their solar geyser systems are installed by technicians who are well versed with the regulations and supported by the appropriate engineering professionals. “Policyholders should make sure that their installer demonstrates that they are familiar with the technical regulations relating to solar installations,” Vlok said.
Vlok also highlighted several specific regulations that homeowners should be aware of, including the requirement for an engineer’s certificate for 300 litres or more solar geyser installations, the need to ensure that the roof structure can support the solar system, and the prohibition of attaching water heaters or storage tanks with a capacity of 200 litres or more to a wall.
Furthermore, Vlok stressed the importance of working with qualified technicians and installers who know what they are doing, noting that full solar energy installations can be costly, ranging from R80,000 for small grid-tied systems to over R500,000 to take a larger house completely off-grid. “If you are spending this kind of money on a solar system, then it makes sense to work with qualified technicians and installers who know what they are doing,” Vlok said. “You don’t want any regrets should you need to ever claim from your insurer.”
To avoid potential issues during the insurance claims stage, Vlok encouraged policyholders to use their insurer’s network to find accredited technicians and installers who can put the right solutions in place. “If your electrical geyser bursts and you want to replace it, some specialist insurers will offer you the opportunity to use the claim payment to pay either in part or full for a solar geyser system instead of a new electric geyser,” Vlok said.
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