It is the ideal time to switch to solar in Cape Town and with the SomeWatt Solar option of installing personal EV home chargers, the benefits continue to increase
For residents of the Mother City, the conversation around energy has shifted. It is no longer just about surviving the next round of load shedding and high electricity costs, but about energy independence, financial benefits and contributing to a greener Western Cape. A well-engineered solar solution can transform any household or business enterprise. SomeWatt Solar now also offers owners of Electrical Vehicles (EV’s) the option of having their own personal charging station at home.
Eskom’s latest tariff hike has officially kicked in, with direct customers seeing an 8.76% increase and municipal users bracing for an average 9.01% jump coming this July. When factoring the soaring cost of petrol—with diesel potentially crossing the R30 mark soon—staying mobile is turning into an expensive challenge. At SomeWatt Solar, we believe the solution is parked right in your driveway. Here is why pairing an Electric Vehicle (EV) with a home solar charging station is no longer a “future” luxury—it’s a financial necessity for 2026.
Beat the Eskom Price Trap
Every year, the cost of grid power climbs higher than the year before. By installing a solar PV system tailored for EV charging, you are essentially pre-purchasing your fuel for the next 20 to 25 years at a fixed, zero-rand rate.
While your neighbours are checking the NERSA announcements with dread, you’ll be driving on pure Cape Town sunshine, even in winter. And yes, With SomeWatt Solar installations, winter in the Mother City proves no problem. With our high-efficiency panels and smart inverters, excess daytime energy straight into your car’s battery.
Load Shedding: The Sleeping Giant
We’ve enjoyed a long streak of stability—over 300 days without load shedding! However, as any South African knows, the grid remains a complex beast. With the winter approaching and unplanned outages always a risk, total reliance on the grid is a gamble.
If load shedding were to return, a traditional EV owner relying solely on the grid might find themselves stranded with a flat battery during a Stage 4 blackout. A SomeWatt Solar home charging station with battery backup (using Tier 1 brands such as Dyness and Volta) would ensure your car is charged and ready to go, regardless of what’s happening with the national pylons.
Quality top of the Agenda
Cape Town’s climate can be harsh on external hardware. There exists a unique trifecta of environmental challenges:
- High Salt Mist: If residing in areas such as Milnerton, Sea Point or Muizenberg, salt spray is a silent killer for low-quality mounting structures and panel frames.
- The “Cape Doctor”: The legendary South-Easter winds could put immense structural pressure on solar arrays.
- Wet winters: Unlike the Highveld, the Cape’s peak rainfall occurs when sunlight is at its lowest.
To combat the above, SomeWatt Solar prioritizes Tier-1, salt-mist-resistant panels and heavy-duty, wind-rated mounting systems. A solar system is a 20-to-25-year investment; cutting corners on the “nuts and bolts” in Cape Town is a recipe for disaster. SomeWatt Solar ensures every bolt is tightened with the Cape’s coastal conditions in mind.
Tier-1, salt-mist-resistant solar panels and personal home charging stations combine financial bankability with extreme environmental durability, making them the industry standard for coastal and marine installations.
Key Benefits of This Combination
- Extreme Corrosion Defence: Panels are specifically engineered to withstand salt-laden air, which otherwise accelerates rust in metal frames, wiring and even solar cells.
- Lower Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE): While having a 10–20% higher upfront cost, they prevent premature failure. Standard panels may fail in 5–10 years in coastal areas, whereas salt-resistant modules are designed to last 25–30 years.
- Maximized Power Retention: High-quality panels (certified IEC 61701 Level 6) can endure decades of salt exposure with less than a 2% declinein power output.
Insurance and Resale Value: Many insurers and banks require Tier-1, certified equipment for non-recourse project financing and coverage in high-salinity zones.
Cape Town is set to procure 500MW from energy traders at lower rates than Eskom, poised to become the first municipality in South Africa (SA) to procure electricity at scale from licensed energy traders in a move towards energy independence and sustainability. Their unique “Cash for Power” scheme proves why now is the perfect time to switch to solar energy with a trusted provider and installer such as SomeWatt Solar. Cape Town’s “Cash for Power” scheme allows businesses and residents with grid-tied solar PV systems to sell excess electricity back to the municipality, earning credits or cash. As of February 2024, participants earned over R25 million, with over 1,400 sellers (residential and commercial) participating to reduce reliance on Eskom and combat load-shedding and increasing electricity tariff hikes.
Consumer to Producer financial gains
The biggest game-changer for Cape Town residents is the City’s progressive outlook on small-scale embedded generation (SSEG). Unlike many other municipalities, the City of Cape Town has paved the way for residents to actually earn from their solar investment. Instead of just receiving a credit on your bill, the City now offers actual cash payments once your bill hits zero. This effectively turns your roof into a micro-power plant. At SomeWatt Solar, we specialize in ensuring your system is SSEG-compliant, utilizing the correct bi-directional meters and NERSA-approved inverters required to participate in this scheme.
Does solar even work during a Cape Town winter?
Yes, but with a different strategy. While a summer day in the Cape provides nearly 14 hours of potential generation, a rainy July day provides significantly less. Lithium-Ion Battery Storage is incremental.
By installing a smart hybrid system, every bit of energy is captured during sunny breaks in winter and stored for early dark evenings and to power your car. What you do not use, you can sell.
Increasing Property Value
The Western Cape property market remains the most resilient in the country. Increasingly, “Solar-ready” or “Off-grid” are the most searched terms on property portals such as Property24 and Pam Golding. A professionally installed system from a reputable installer such as SomeWatt Solar doesn’t just save you money on your monthly Eskom bill—it adds a significant premium to your home’s resale value. Having a home charging station would increase your property’s value even more.
The Filling Station in Your Garage
Why wait in line at a petrol station or hunt for a public charging point? With a Level 2 home charger integrated into your solar setup:
- Convenience: Plug in when you get home; wake up to a full tank.
- Zero Emissions: You aren’t just saving money; you’re drastically reducing your carbon footprint.
- Property Value: A home equipped with solar and EV infrastructure is a premium asset in the Cape Town property market.
How SomeWatt Solar makes it Easy
Transitioning to solar-powered mobility can feel technical, but we handle the heavy lifting. Our process:
- Custom Assessment: We look at your daily mileage and household energy needs.
- Tailored Design: We select the right inverter (Dyness and Volta) to manage both your home and your car.
- Professional Installation: SANS 10142 approved and City-compliant.
Can I charge my EV at night if I have a solar system?
Yes. By using a lithium battery backup system, you can store the solar energy generated during the day and use it to charge your vehicle overnight, ensuring you truly “drive on sunshine” even after dark.
Will a solar system still charge my car during Cape Town’s rainy winters?
While production is lower on cloudy days, modern Tier-1 solar panels are highly efficient at capturing diffused light. Your system will still generate power, and SomeWatt Solar designs arrays to maximize yield even in winter conditions.
Does installing an EV charger and solar system require municipal permission?
Yes, in Cape Town, solar installations and certain high-power EV chargers must be SSEG (Small-Scale Embedded Generation) compliant. SomeWatt Solar handles the registration and municipal compliance process for you.
How much will I actually save on "fuel" costs?
On average, charging an EV with solar is roughly 75%–80% cheaper than refueling a petrol vehicle. When you produce your own electricity, your cost per kilometer drops to nearly zero after the system pays for itself.
Can I start with solar and add the EV charger later?
Absolutely. We recommend a “future-proof” inverter setup that allows you to easily integrate a dedicated EV Wallbox whenever you are ready to make the switch to electric driving.
