The best areas for SOLAR energy in SA

The latest findings from Standard Bank’s LookSee home efficiency platform have identified the best areas to live in South Africa for solar energy. If you live in one of these areas and are not fully taking advantage of solar energy, you really ought to.

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Likewise, if you’re thinking of moving/upgrading your home and want to know which neighbourhoods in SA offer the best solar energy hotspots, then look no further. As we’ve already reported, South Africa is in the midst of solar boom, but where are the best areas, and how does your current suburb rank?

SOLAR ENERGY HOTSPOTS

According to findings from Standard Bank LookSee across the board, homes in Gauteng have a higher Solar Score than their coastal counterparts.

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This means Gauteng homes are able to generate more electricity from their rooftops. A home’s location, solar irradiance, shady conditions, and roof direction, size and slope can have a significant impact on how a solar system performs, says the head of Standard Bank LookSee, Marc du Plessis.

KNOW YOUR POTENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY YIELD

Du Plessis says these key elements are difficult for most home owners to assess themselves, which can lead to disappointment when installing a solar system. It’s for this reason that the Solar Score system was created.

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Standard Bank’s LookSee Solar Score is really easy to use. It only requires a user to enter their physical address for the system to generate a 3D model of the house and assess it against various solar performance factors.

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You then receive a Solar Score out of 100, as well as guidelines on usable roof area, average sunlight days, potential electricity generation, and estimated savings on their electricity bill. Click on HERE to get yours.

WHICH AREAS ARE THE BEST FOR SOLAR ENERGY?

Standard Bank Solar Score has analysed suburbs in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape and it promises to be an invaluable tool if you’re considering a solar energy installation.

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“Looking at Solar Scores for homes in the top 30 suburbs, Gauteng has the overwhelming majority with KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape suburbs taking 9 and 7 places respectively. What’s more, the average homes in the top Gauteng suburbs all have the potential to generate upwards of 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power a day,” says du Plessis.

SOLAR GENERATION POTENTIAL

The system also looks at the generation potential of a house based on how many solar panels can be installed. A home’s location, size and structure have a real impact on how a solar energy system will perform and the electricity it could generate.

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Better still, Standard Bank LookSee offers an end-to-end solar journey focused on helping households find the right system for their electricity needs, including flexible financing options.