Off the grid: the why, the how and the how much

Load shedding is back and unfortunately it shows little sign of going away anytime soon. With Eskom having to resort to rolling blackouts to keep pressure off the national grid once again, it is time for homeowners to consider how to ease their reliance on the national provider.

But even without the threat of load-shedding, taking your home off the grid is a forward-thinking move that will not only future-proof your home, but will also save you money in the long run.

So, now that we have covered the why, below we look at the 'how', and more importantly, the 'how much' you will need to consider when taking your house off the grid.           

SOLAR POWER

According to a report by Business Insider, a solar system can cost between R150 000 and R350 000, meaning this is not a cheap option, but it will provide you with a positive ROI in the long run.

While undeniably the more expensive way to go, solar power is the most popular source of sustainable, renewable energy and a viable option in South Africa.

It is also recommended that your system have a battery storage unit which will provide power at night, and in poor weather conditions. Bear in mind, however, that battery systems usually need to be replaced every five years, adding to the cost.

A cheaper option would be to invest in a back-up solar system for when the lights go out, as opposed to taking yourself off the grid entirely. A basic system can go for around R30 000.

A solar levy?

Recent reports of Eskom looking to hit solar users with an additional penalty to somehow 'punish' customers looking to become less reliant on Eskom, have been proved to be misleading. These reports came on the back of Eskom's new proposed tariff structures, which will see consumers using less power from the national grid paying higher fixed monthly fees.

If approved, solar users would likely see their fixed fee being slightly higher than ordinary municipal users to account for higher demand, administration, and supply costs, BUT they would also save money in the variable cost charge, as they are using less power from Eskom.

And households also receive a discount on the energy they feed back into the grid, depending on their area and municipal provider, which means that solar users can save thousands on their bills over time

It is also worth noting that the tariffs have yet to be approved. There is also no mention made of solar users specifically in the proposed structures. This means that not only will you be less reliant on the national grid, but you will also save in the long run, even if the new tariffs are approved.

COSTS OF SOLAR

But not everybody can afford to go this route.

So, if solar power is not feasible, what other options are there to ensure you save on costs, while becoming less reliant on the national grid at the same time?

GAS

Installing gas into your home is a simple, affordable way to cut your electrical needs. A gas-powered geyser, gas stove, are also super helpful when Eskom turns the power off. There are also gas generators on the market now, which result in less noise and no diesel fumes.

BATTERY POWER

According to a Business Insider report, the Western Cape's guideline estimates that the cost of a battery system can range from R15,000 on the low-end to R50,000 for a top-end installation.

A low-end system would allow for the running of smaller accessories like a decoder and cell phone charger, while a high-end system would allow for all lighting, television, and bigger appliances.

STAYING ONLINE

With remote work now more common than ever, one of the chief headaches when the power goes off, is losing your connection. If your only aim is to keep your Internet up during load-shedding, a small uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or power bank with a DC port will be a quick, and largely affordable, solution.

These smaller UPSes are designed to power your router and optical network terminal off of their battery storage. Costs range from R446 to R1,499, depending on the manufacturer and battery capacity.

START SMALL

Like the UPS to keep you connected, there are, of course, some other cheaper options to help you to start becoming more energy efficient. While they won't get you off the grid, they will help you save on costs, which will allow you to consider a more long-term solution later on. Some quick and easy fixes include:

• Replacing all your light bulbs with LED light bulbs.
• Using a solar cell charger, a car phone charger, or a cell phone power bank.
• Using rechargeable lights.
• Buying surge protector plugs for your television, computer and fridge.

These handy products can be found at most good hardware and appliance stores or you could ask a credible electrician to give your set-up a much-needed check-up.

Load-shedding is not going away anytime soon, while the use of renewable energy and sustainable materials are the best way to future-proof your home, meaning it's time to give serious thought to doing exactly that.