Everything Counts | Ep 22: Guide to Going Solar in South Africa

Loading player...
Everything Counts is a bi-weekly podcast series that dives into money and financial wellness, hosted by 702’s Motheo Khoaripe. Each episode unpacks practical aspects of personal finance-how to save, spend, invest, and make smart decisions to boost your financial well-being.

In this episode, Motheo is joined by De Wet Taljaard (Technical Advisor at Investec Sustainable Solutions), Kirk Palmer (Director at Solafi), and Andrew Winstone (CEO at Energy LED) to tackle one of South Africa’s hottest topics: solar power and energy efficiency for households.

They break down the current state of the energy crisis in South Africa, the realities of Eskom, and the future of electricity. The panel shares actionable tips on how to reduce your energy bill; from switching to LED lighting to using your geyser smartly and choosing energy efficient appliances.

The panel explains the different types of solar systems, the cost of solar panels for home and how to choose a solar system for your home.

Whether you’re ready to invest in solar or just want to make your home more energy efficient, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you make informed decisions and take control of your energy future.

00:00 Introduction
01:36 The current energy crisis in South Africa
03:05 The Energy Availability Factor (EAF)
04:28 The impact of power failures in municipalities
05:10 How to curb the cost of power failures in your home
05:50 How to use lights to reduce energy consumption and save costs
07:39 Energy efficient options to cut costs in the home
8:36 How to use the energy efficiency metric
09:14 Insulation in the home
10:24 Home solar system costs and the return on investment
12:49 Types of solar systems on the market and the costs involved
14:50 Maintenance and lifespan of solar systems
15:30 Choosing the right solar system
17:32 Sectional titles and body corporates
18:45 Compliance and safety considerations
20:10 Eskom direct connected customer requirements
21:20 Why registration is the responsibility of the business or homeowner
21:52 Meeting the requirements to get your system registered
22:17 Financing opportunities for solar systems
22:45 Funding solutions for Investec clients
23:18 Cape Town versus Johannesburg: feeding back into the grid
25:32 Energy saving tips
26:08 Increasing energy independence and savings for the future
27:20 How can you prepare for South Africa’s growing water crisis? Listen to the whole Everything Counts series on Investec Focus Radio SA
19 May English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Everything Counts | Ep 30: Business Cybersecurity: Staying Ahead of Cyber Fraud

Worried about the growing threat of cybercrime and fraud targeting your business? This episode of Everything Counts is your essential guide to understanding and combating modern business cybersecurity risks. Join host Motheo Khoaripe as he speaks with Professor Danny Myburgh, digital forensics expert, and Kevin Hogan, Head of Fraud Risk…
8 Sep 28 min

Macro Monday Ep 86: Data readings increasingly point to a US slowdown

Investors are growing concerned about a possible US recession, as the labour market weakens and PMI numbers decline, notes Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, Investec Wealth & Investment International. Market are now expecting three US rate cuts this year and five next year.
8 Sep 9 min

NOW Ep108: The magnificent 10 | Striking gold in global markets

The six resources stocks among South Africa’s “Magnificent 10” are shining on the back of gold and platinum strength, but can the rally withstand US inflation, China’s demand shifts and local logistics woes? Host Jeremy Maggs asks Osa Mazwai, investment strategist at Investec Wealth & Investment International and Campbell Parry,…
2 Sep 22 min

Macro Monday Ep 85: Volatility remains low

Volatility in many asset classes remains low, despite the unclear outlook for tariffs, US growth, jobs and interest rates. Meanwhile, says Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, Investec Wealth & Investment International, the Fed remains cautious about the US economy, and markets are expecting a cut next month and four to…
25 Aug 9 min