Solar Savings Calculator South Africa 2026
Calculate how much you can save with solar power
This calculator provides estimates only. Actual savings depend on system performance, electricity tariff changes, and local conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does solar cost in South Africa?
A typical 5kW grid-tied system costs R60,000–R120,000 installed. A 5kW hybrid system with battery backup costs R120,000–R200,000. Prices have dropped significantly in recent years.
How many sun hours does South Africa get?
Most of South Africa gets 5-6 peak sun hours per day on average — among the highest in the world. This makes solar very effective in SA.
What is the Eskom tariff rate for residential?
Eskom tariffs range from about R1.36/kWh (Block 1: 0-350kWh) to over R2.08/kWh (Block 3: 600kWh+). Municipal tariffs are often 10-30% higher.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Most residential solar systems in South Africa pay for themselves in 3-7 years, depending on system size, electricity consumption, and tariff increases.
Do I need batteries for solar?
Not necessarily. Grid-tied systems without batteries are cheaper and work well for reducing daytime electricity costs. Batteries are needed for backup during load shedding.
Will solar work during load shedding?
Only with a battery backup system (hybrid or off-grid). Grid-tied systems without batteries shut down during power outages for safety reasons.
Can I sell excess solar power back to Eskom?
Some municipalities offer net metering or feed-in tariffs, but it is not yet widely available in South Africa. Check with your local municipality.
How much roof space do I need for solar?
A typical 5kW system needs about 25-35m² of roof space (roughly 10-14 panels). Panels should face north in South Africa.
This calculator provides estimates only. Actual savings depend on system performance, electricity tariff changes, and local conditions.
How the solar savings calculator works
Savings come from kilowatt-hours you would otherwise have bought. Take the units the panels produce that you use yourself, multiply by your tariff, and that is the monthly saving. Units exported to the grid are worth much less — often a fraction of the retail tariff — and units you do not use are lost.
Using 900 kWh a month at R2.85/kWh costs R2 565,00. If the system covers 60% of that, the saving is 900 × R2.85 × 0,60 = R1 539,00 a month, or R18 468 a year.
A R95 000 installation therefore pays back in R95 000 ÷ R18 468 = 5.1 years, ignoring tariff increases (which shorten it) and battery replacement (which lengthens it).
What changes the answer in South Africa
Eskom tariffs have risen well above inflation for most of the last decade, so a payback calculated at today’s tariff is conservative. But the battery is the expensive part: a system sized mainly for load shedding produces little usable energy in a month because the battery cycles once a day at most. Residential grid-tied systems in most metros still cannot export for credit on the same terms as they buy, so self-consumption is what the numbers depend on.
Common questions about the solar savings calculator
How do I estimate my monthly usage?
Read the kWh figure on your bill, not the rand figure. If you only have rand, divide by your tariff — a R2 565 bill at R2,85/kWh is 900 kWh.
Is a battery worth it financially?
Rarely on savings alone. The battery adds capital cost without generating anything; the payback above assumes the panels are doing the work. Batteries buy backup, not return.
What payback period is realistic?
Four to eight years for a system sized to daytime use. The 5.1 years above is in that range because 60% self-consumption is a realistic, not optimistic, assumption.