Time to sit down and design the solar system for my house

[Isetech]

I have been holding back, waiting to see what is going to happen, how to deal with the SSEG regsitration for my house, what size system I should install. Learning about Solar and even completed a few complete installations, just to get a feel of how they work and the regualtions etc.

I did make the mistake of putting all my eggs in one basket and focused on Sunsynk, its has been a difficult journey trying to get support and we have had our fair share of challenges, but hey, well you live and learn. Dont get me wrong it is a good system, but there are other systems which are just as good if not better. Which sytem will I be installing at my own house, well wait and see .

There are many other hoops and obsticles which still have to be sorted out before I worry about the brand I install.

[Isetech]

Where do we start, I would normally say the budget, however this is a long term project, so we going to start right at the beginning figure out all the challenges then decide how much I need to decide if I will take money form my bond or pay cash for the installation. (fortunately I knopw someone who can install solar systems )

Lets start with why am I looking into solar and not just a battery backup system for load shedding, because I already have measures in place to keep the lights on and I wan to reduce my electricity account as much as possible, without outlaying hundreds of thousands.

So lets start with the electricity account.

Current monthly electricity account, including the 15.1% increase, effective 1 July 2023 = 258.11 c/kwh ex vat

Including vat = 296.83 c/kwh (R2.97 per kwh)

Lets say my home is using an average of 35 kwh per day x 31 (days in the month) = 1085 kwh per month

1085 (avg useage per month) x R2.97 (R/kwh) = R3222.45 is my average monthly elctricity account.

How will change if I register then install an SSEG (solar system) ?

I will be moved onto a residential net billing tarrif, which will include the scale 4 rate R2.97 kw/h

A monthly fee Ancilliary Network Charge (Based on Inverter/Generator Size)

R110.31 ex vat ... R126.86 including vat.

Feed-in tarrif of 124.83 c/kwh ex vat ... 143.55 c/kwh (R1.43 /kwh)

[Isetech]

As the user (the poor sucker who is responsible for everything) I need to first go to the Website and download the SSEG requirements and documents which will have to be filled out and submitted.

I am sure there will be costs invloved in the replacement of the meter and other costs invloved.

Submit the following documentation to (residential.generation@durban.gov.za or Commercial.Generation@durban.gov.za) depending on the application made. ( dont forget to put the dot between residential and genration)

1. Completed application form (residential and commercial application forms attached) (see attached document)
2. NRS 097 inverter certificate ( I have a copy of this for both the Susnynk and deye unit because I am not sure which brand I will be using yet)
3. Operating Philosophy if you have batteries/supercapacitors to be installed (will do this later today)
4. Equipment data sheets ( will download from the info from their website)
5. Detailed Single Line Diagram ( I will do this later, fortunately my house is always used to experiement, so I already have details drawings, layouts and sketches)
6. PV/generation production simulation report ( I have spent most of this weekend downloading a software program and spent most of the weekend learning how to use it, I did it for all the systems already installed for customers, so that ready for their registrations)


The application form:

https://www.durban.gov.za/storage/Documents/Electricity%20Forms/Application_Forms.pdf

[Isetech]

Now I ask the question, do I need to find an engineer at this point to sign the application form?

Section 8 Signiture and approval indicates the owner, the electrican and the engineer must sign the form.

In reality it is impossible for the owner to complete the application, so I will go through the process for my house, find an engineer who can sign the document and offer it as a service to anyone who would like it done. Once the amensty period is over and Ethekwini start disconnecting supplies, ther ear egoing to be hundreds of thousands of these applications. That why I am getitng in now while everyone is sitting on the fence hoping it going to go away.

As soon as the disconnection start ther eis going to be mass panic.

I am sure everyone is wondering when this is going to happen, what is preventing Ethekwini from enforcing this right now?

Should I get all my ducks in a row, then wait for the amesty period then submit ther forms?

ITs like a cat and mice game, what will they do next ?

[Isetech]

Some calcualtions to be done to decide if I should fit a 3.5 kw or 8 kw or bigger inverter. With the focus on the inverter max MPPT capacity. Will have to see which brand has the best capacity.

Some thing else to consider is taking my workshop and offices off grid, then I can fit a 3.5 kw in the house to just to keep the lights on and have the workshop off grid (no fees ) using an 8 kw inverter and full the roof with panels ( i can get 38 x 370 watt panels on the garage and office and 60 on the house roof ) You maybe asking why not 5 or 600 watt panels, I can double up the smaller panles.

[Isetech]

Busy filling out the documents reuired to register an SSEG,

Section 5 Emedded generation : Note! Maximum genration of 4.6 KVA single phase and 13.8 KVA three phase.

Anyone know what that means?

[Isetech]

Part C - section 7. Compliance

I see it doesnt reference anything to do with SABS only NRS and South African renewable energy code.

Why am I wasting my time doing a COC using the SANS 10142, it just doesnt make sense.

[Isetech]

There is no reference on the entire document to the SANS 10142 or a valid certificate of complinace.

So it looks like the docuemnt was created by the South African renewable energy industry. I can see wher ethis is going

The application form is attached

Does anyone have the

NRS 097 and 048 code

The South African renewable energy code, does this document have a certificate of compliance and who can sgn the the certificate ?

[Derlyn]

The 4,6 KVA means that you cannot feed more than that back into the grid. It works out to one quarter of your main breaker size for domestic installations.

[Isetech]

Apparently it iahs been scrapped and I need to go read the latest NRS codes.

The 4,6 KVA means that you cannot feed more than that back into the grid. It works out to one quarter of your main breaker size for domestic installations.

[GCE]

Busy filling out the documents reuired to register an SSEG,

Section 5 Emedded generation : Note! Maximum genration of 4.6 KVA single phase and 13.8 KVA three phase.

Anyone know what that means?

Pretty much has not changed since the last time you asked

https://www.theforumsa.co.za/forums/showthread.php/28773-Application-for-connection-of-embedded-generation

[Dave A]

Pretty much has not changed since the last time you asked

https://www.theforumsa.co.za/forums/...ded-generation

That was almost exactly a year ago.
How time flies...

[Isetech]

the response I got from Ethekwini

"The size limitations was removed earlier this year following the new version of the NRS 097 – 2 -3 guideline which was updated.

We do require the COC but that is required post installation not at the application stage."

[Isetech]

Note the email address has still not be updated on the website and it has taken this long to find out that its just the dot missing on.

So lets hope we can registe ra system by next year this time

That was almost exactly a year ago.
How time flies...

[Isetech]

Is this the latest version of the NRS 097 ?

https://www.sseg.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/NRS-097-2-3-Feb2023.pdf