‘Reduce your reliance on expensive grid power with a Solar solution!’
Installing fixed solar powered units can greatly decrease your reliance on expensive grid power. Installed in the correct environment, you can recover your costs quickly through the free clean source of the sun! At QDM we don’t just sell these solutions we use them ourselves and run our offices on this system!
At QDM we have a 3-step process to maximize savings on your energy bill at a home or business premises.
Step 1: Energy Efficiency
Step 2: Heating
Step 3: Solar Solutions
For QDM to offer you the best possible energy saving solution for your home or small business we would need to conduct a site inspection and obtain monthly energy accounts information & tariff will allow us to recommend you with the affordable solution.
Step 1: Energy Efficiency
Energy saving is the most important step in reducing your energy expenses. AT QDM we specialize in identifying your major energy consumption factors and reducing your demand. An Energy Efficient home will use about 160 units per person with a Super-Efficient home using around 80 units per person per month. Reducing the demand on your system is a priority in maximizing efficiency in any energy efficient solution.
Step 2: Heating
Any heating required in your home will use a lot of energy and geysers are without a doubt the biggest energy consumer in a home. There are many options when it comes to geysers. The options below are for the two most common solutions available.
OPTION 1 – RETROFIT: In addition to your existing High Pressure Solar Geyser solar heating collectors are installed on your roof and your geyser becomes the storage unit. This includes an electronic controller system which will maximize efficiency in the transfer of hot water between the collector and storage vessel (current geyser). Retrofit options:
| Geyser Size | Supply only (no rebate) incl. VAT | Installed (incl. rebate) incl. VAT |
| 150 litre | R11 250.00 | R10 250.00 |
| 200 litre | R12 000.00 | R11 000.00 |
OPTION 2 – NEW SOLAR GEYSER SYSTEM: This option is available should your existing geyser need to be replaced. There are 2 different variants within this option, direct and indirect. Direct is when both collector and storage vessel are on top of a roof; whereas for the indirect option, collectors are on the roof and the storage vessel is placed in the roof. This includes a basic plumbing kit and an electronic controller. More often than not, new geysers can be claimed for from your insurance. New solar geyser options:
| Geyser Size | Supply only (no rebate) incl. VAT | Installed (incl. rebate) incl. VAT |
| Direct 150 litre | R15 400.00 | R14 400.00 |
| Indirect 150 litre | R15 960.00 | R14 960.00 |
A typical geyser carries a 5 year warranty; however our units are maintenance-free and come with a 10 year warranty! Evacuated tube collectors carry a 5 year warranty, however, we install flat-plate collectors which carry a 10 year warranty and are 15% more efficient.
The pump and electronic controllers carry a 1 year warranty. A full quotation will be supplied after an onsite inspection of your current system. Note that all paperwork for rebates will be completed and submitted by QDM on the client’s behalf. The rebate, in effect, pays for the installation and will be paid directly to QDM.
Step 3: Solar
Solar Option 1: Grid Tied System
The Grid Tied system is dependent on the actual grid (municipal electricity/Eskom). If the grid is down, you won’t have any power! As a guide we work on R20 per Watt (W) for a Grid Tied System. Typically if you are using 800 units or R1 000 per month on electricity you would need a 5kW system which would costs R20 x 5000W = R100 000.
Solar Option 2: Off Grid Solar System
Similar to the Grid Tied system the most important step would be to reduce your demand as much as possible through our energy saving measures & tips. The most important factor for owning an off-grid system is that you basically own your own power station (the inverter) and are completely self-reliant. No more load-shedding! However, this comes at a cost as the maintenance factor is higher, batteries will have to be replaced every 8-10 years and you are limited when it comes to the amount of energy consumed at one given time (Demand).
As a guide for Off Grid we work on R35 per Watt (W). Typically a 5kW system would require the following: 24 batteries, 18 solar panels, 5kW inverter & charge controller, and mounting brackets. A 5kW Off Grid system would typically cost R175 000 and a 3kW system R105 000.
Solar Option 3: Hybrid System
We have introduced a new system which is a combination of the Grid Tie & Off Grid system. This system would generate power and push it back into the grid but when the lights go off you will have a back-up system with a designated capacity, dependant on the requirements. This system requires a specialised Hybrid Inverter which will cost approximately R36 000 (dependant on the exchange rate). An entry level Hybrid system with 4 batteries, 5 panels, specialized hybrid inverter & accessories would typically cost R75 000 installed with a full system costing R155 000 installed! The Hybrid system will ensure that you are covered when the lights go out. The hybrid system is designed to reduce your demand and reliance on Eskom/Municipal power to the maximum. It is the best of both worlds.
For more info please contact QDM at Jacques@QDM.co.za or Marketing@QDM.co.za
or call Jacques on 083 455 7619 or Gareth 083 445 4952
Click here to request QDM to quote on a PV solution for your building!
