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Going solar

Going solar

Homes or businesses that have onsite renewable energy generation will benefit from lower electricity costs and contribute to a more secure and sustainable future for Cape Town.

Safer, faster solar PV approval

You can now apply for authorisation of your solar PV or battery system online using the new Energy Services Applications platform on e-Services. 

Applying online will improve the process of obtaining authorisation for SSEG installations by:

  • significantly reducing turnaround times, 
  • providing greater transparency, and 
  • automating the issuing of Permission to Install (PTI) letters for certain application types.

Please note

Since 1 October 2023, all new solar PV and/or battery system applications are being treated as grid-tied systems in an effort to make SSEG approvals faster and safer. This means that all systems must use City-approved inverter, have professional sign-off and be authorised before switching on. 

Many systems using non-approved inverters are not correctly wired. These pose risks to the safety and integrity of the network. We will no longer be accepting applications for standby and off-grid systems.

Systems that have already been authorised will remain valid, and pre-October 2023 applications for standby/off-grid systems will still be processed, but priority will be given to grid-tied systems using City-approved inverters.

The following do not require authorisation:

  • Solar Water Heaters (thermal) 
  • Solar security/garden lights 
  • Portable UPS trolley inverters (that you plug into the wall socket)

Solar water heating options for the home

Switching to a more efficient water heating system will help you save money on your electricity bill.

Solar water heaters

Solar water heaters are a set of pipes that are placed on the roof of your home. Heat from the sun warms water that can then be used throughout your home for all your hot water needs.

Heat pumps

Heat pumps use a small amount of electricity to power a pump. The pump acts as an air conditioner in reverse, moving heat from the air into the hot water geyser.

Heat pumps are a good option for homes and flats that do not get a lot of direct sunshine or do not have enough space or the right construction to support a solar water heater.

Solar PV water heaters

Solar photovoltaic (PV) water heaters use PV panels to generate electricity from the sun to heat water via an electrical element. The water can then be used throughout your home for all your hot water needs.

On-site electricity generation

Solar PV Installer Newsflash

If you are a Solar PV Installer, and would like to receive more information on Small-scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) from the City, you can subscribe to our Solar PV Installer Newsflash to stay up-to-date with the latest information.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV): Embedded Generation (EG)

Solar PV technology converts energy from the sun to electricity, which can be used in buildings of all sizes. Investing in solar PV can help reduce the amount of electricity that is bought from the City.

Solar PV is one form of Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG). SSEG refers to systems generating less than 1MVA that are connected to the City's electricity grid. EG refers to systems with a generation capacity of more than 1 MVA and less than 100 MVA.

Solar PV is suitable for any place where there is a good solar resource and electricity is already used including residential, commercial and industrial areas.

All solar PV systems installed within the City of Cape Town electricity supply area must be registered for authorisation.

Choosing a solar PV system

Please note

We no longer accept applications for off-grid or standby systems due to the risks they pose and the time required to authorise.

There are a number of solar PV configurations:

Grid-tied systems

These are connected to the City's electricity grid either directly or through your property's internal wiring. There are two types of grid-tied systems.

  • Grid-tied feed-in system (also known as an EG with export option): the electricity generated by the PV system is used on the property. Excess electricity generated from the system is fed back into the electricity grid - you may receive credit from the City.
  • Grid-tied non-feed-in PV (also known as an EG with no export option, with reverse power flow blocking): the electricity generated by the PV system is used on the property only when there is a demand for it. Excess electricity generated is blocked from feeding back into the grid.

Grid-tied hybrid systems

Grid-tied systems that island after interruption of the distributor supply or when the applicable electrical service conditions are outside stated limits or out of required tolerances and then supplies the load from the inverter, operating in the stored-energy mode via a suitably interlocked change-over switch.

Find out more

Our Load-shedding Resilience Guide offers easy and affordable ways to protect your home from load-shedding. You can also find answers to SSEG FAQs.

Is feeding in my excess electricity the right choice for me?

Most of the electricity generated by a grid-tied feed-in system is consumed onsite. Sometimes, more electricity is generated than consumed, and the City allows customers to feed excess generation back into the City’s grid through the SSEG Feed-in tariff. If you choose not to feed-in, there will be times when your SSEG installation is prevented from generating excess electricity through reverse power flow blocking.

When deciding whether or not to feed-in, consider the following:

  • The cost of your installation
  • The additional costs for feeding in which includes the AMI meter and any metering accommodation that may be required
  • The generating and storage capacity of your system relative to your household load to understand how much excess you would be feeding in
  • The value of the excess electricity. You can calculate this by using the published feed-in tariff to determine the value proposition.

There are a number of tools and resources to assist with this calculation. However, the size and design of each SSEG installation may differ based on your brand preference, roof space, battery size, electricity consumption and budget. If you are still unsure if SSEG export (feeding in) makes sense for you, speak to your installer to provide an expert opinion.

Follow the link below if you would like to feed in excess electricity to the City’s network:

Register your solar PV system

All solar PV systems installed within the City's electricity supply area must be authorised by us.

Apply online

You can now apply for authorisation of your solar PV or battery system online via the new 'Energy Services' platform on e-Services. 


 

The new platform will improve the process of obtaining authorisation for SSEG installations through reduced turnaround times, increased transparency on an application’s progress and status, and automated issuing of Permission to Install (PTI) letters for certain application types. 

See our useful guideline documents below:

Registration is legally required in terms of the City of Cape Town Electricity Supply By-Law, 2010 and ensures the safety of anyone who comes into contact with the PV system or the grid itself.

Registration also makes sure that all those who are using electricity from the grid pay for their usage accordingly. Running your meter backwards or avoiding paying your share of the grid upkeep is illegal and puts greater strain on the rest of the city.

Connection of Embedded Generation form

SSEG applications using the Connection of Embedded Generation PDF form will only be allowed in extenuating circumstances. 


 

Email the relevant area office in the 'Contact us' section below to request the form. Note that this process may take longer and you will not be able to track your application progress. Issuing of the PTI letter will take 3-6 months.

Follow the link below to find out how to register your solar PV and/or battery system:

An unauthorised PV system can:

  • Increase the risk of fire and other hazards
  • Result in injury or death, especially if it is still feeding onto the grid during a power outage. The property owner will be at risk of legal recourse under Occupational Health and Safety laws.
  • Cause quality and sustainability problems with the electricity grid, specifically from unknown capacity and schedules of all generation on the network. This information is needed in order to maintain the balance of load and electricity quality.

Properties with unregistered SSEG will be issued a contravention notice, be liable for a service fee and instructed to:

  • Disconnect the SSEG within five working days;
  • Provide a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) as proof
  • Register the SSEG within one month and conclude the authorisation process within three months

Failure to comply could result in the disconnection of the electricity supply to the property.

Contact us

Small-scale embedded generation

For more information, email electricityapplication.queries@capetown.gov.za or contact the relevant area office below.

Top tip

Find out which area your suburb falls into.

Area North

Telephone:
021 444 1394 / 021 444 8333 / 021 444 3991 / 021 444 0752

Area East

Telephone:
021 444 8511 / 021 444 8334 / 021 444 8335 / 021 444 2282 / 021 444 2265

Area South

Telephone:
021 444 2097021 400 4750 / 021 400 4751 / 021 400 4752 / 021 400 4753

Document downloads

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