By being grid connected, homeowners and businesses can benefit from reduced electricity bills. Depending on electricity consumption and energy produced, each installation will reap varying cost savings.
As an example, a typical South African home consumes on average 285kWh per person per month. Based on an average family of four, this is 1,140kWh/month, and based on the average Port Elizabeth wind speed of five metres per second, the Kestrel e160i can produce 333kWh/month. Two solar panels will produce 1,800kWh/month, so home owners will not need to purchase electricity and will be saving R1,373/month.
"While globally, grid connection of renewable energy sources is not uncommon, this is a South African first. The scheme has the potential to significantly impact both the cost of electricity as well as the ability to go green, but to also become self-sufficient and feed-in green energy to the grid," says Leon Gouws, sales and marketing director of Kestrel Renewable Energy.
"Every site has a unique optimum combination of green energy sources such as solar and wind. A professionally designed and correctly installed solution should allow the household or small business to generate its own green energy only using Eskom power when the alternative energy sources are insufficient."
