Frequently asked Questions
Terminology Used
Kilowatt peak is the output power achieved by a solar module under set standard test conditions.In South Africa, 1 kWp of solar panelling will generate approximately 1 710 kilowatt hours per year.
Kilowatt hour is the measure of energy and is used to define the amount of energy used over a one-hour period. This is conventionally the unit of power referred to on your electricity bill.
There are a number of factors to keep in mind when calculating the perfect solar system size. Most households tend to install a system between 2.450 and 4 kWp, which is capable of generating 4 190 – 6 840 kWh per year. The factors you need to consider when opting for a solar system includes how much electricity you use, how much money are you willing to invest and what is the size of your roof. You should also consider if you want solar energy to meet all your energy needs or just a portion of them.
To find the ideal solar system size for your needs, fill in our quote form.
A Grid-Tied system has no batteries and is therefore the cheapest option but the downside is that it cannot store energy generated therefore less overall efficiency, and if main grid goes down, your system shuts down and you cannot generate or use Solar energy while there is loadshedding.
A Hybrid systems has batteries installed on the system and has a higher initial cost with the upside being that you can store the energy generated for later use. If the grid goes down your system will switch over to stored electricity and you will therefore not be affected by loadshedding.
General Questions
A typical residential installation takes about 20-40 hours of installation time on the roof with another 10+ hours inside the house to finalise the wiring and so forth. All of our teams are highly competent and skilled and therefore most jobs are completed in 2-4 days.
Green Leaf Importers employees all the right personnel for the job, therefore you will only deal with Green Leaf Importers. We are your one stop contractor, here to service you from A-Z!
Your solar system will pay for itself over a couple of years but the emotional “payment” is immediate as you will enjoy an immediate reduction in your monthly electricity bill and even no more loadshedding if you opted for a hybrid system. Your system will pay for itself in roughly 3 – 9 years on average.
A solar system has no moving parts and therefore little maintenance is needed. If rain doesn’t do the job then you simply spray your solar panels with clean water a few times per year to keep them clean and clear of dust which might reduce its effectivity. You must also make sure that there is nothing piled up on top of the solar panels which could block them from the sun.
In general a solar panel can generate power for over 40 years with the expected optimal operating lifespan of a panel being between 20 to 25 years. Solar panels usually operate at approximately 80% efficiency after 25 years.
The ideal direction is Solar North, but solar panels can be installed facing North East or North West, with slight reduction in power generation. Within this range, power output stays within 10 or 15 percent of maximum. Even more easterly and westerly roof installations are viable, especially on shallower roofs.
The addition of a solar system to your house will certainly increase the value of your house as several studies have found that solar homes are worth more money and sell more quickly due to the additional value that the home provides. To accurately determine how much Solar has increased the value of your home, will be dependent on many other variables such as price bracket, location etc.
A solar system and its components are relatively quiet, operating at about the same level of noise as a refrigerator. These systems are generally installed in utility rooms, pantries, basements or in the garage to minimise the effect of any noise generated and to keep the bulky system out of sight.
All solar panels undergo stringent testing to ensure that they can withstand hail storms. Most solar panels are well-equipped to withstand impacts even from very large hailstones. While hail can damage some types of thin film solar panels, the likelihood is very small, and occurrences are extremely rare. Many solar-electric modules and solar hot water collectors are made with tempered glass. The substrate is a flexible, plastic material and highly resistant to impact damage from rocks or hail.
The electricity generated by a solar system is identical to the electricity supplied by Eskom through the grid, so you will never notice that your house is running on solar power. The current will also not have a negative impact on your appliances.