The journey to going green and getting off the grid for many starts small. With solar battery prices becoming more affordable, solar power is no longer reserved for a small margin of home owners and businesses. Solar power with battery backup is now achievable to the many.
More South Africans want freedom from reliance on the grid and Eskom. Read more to find out about solar power solutions, and what a battery with inverter will cost as your starting setup before you add solar panels
What is solar power with battery backup?
This type of solar installation combines three different pieces of technology:
Solar panels: Panels installed on a roof that convert solar energy into DC current.
Batteries: The DC current is then used to charge high-capacity batteries to store the generated current.
Inverters: These devices convert DC current to AC electricity that can be used to power South African appliances in the home or office.
Many South Africans prepare for larger solar power installations by getting batteries and inverters first, as these can be charged from the grid and used to power essential appliances during load shedding and other emergencies where power supplies are unexpectedly interrupted.
Prepare your home or business for solar with battery and inverter pricing information
The average range for battery prices for off the grid or grid-dependent systems is R23 000 to R80 000 for 5.3kWh batteries, depending on how many batteries you need to meet your energy requirements.
The cost of an inverter for your off-the-grid starter system without a solar panel (battery array plus inverter) depends on:
- Brand (there are minor differences between inverter brands)
- Build quality (expect to pay more for better quality but get more longevity from a high-quality build)
- Features (e.g. noise level reduction, supported appliance types)
- Appliance safety features
The approximate price range for an inverter is:
- R17K to R25K for a 3kva inverter
- R22K to R35K for a 5kva inverter
- R30K to R45K for an 8kva inverter
Low-end battery-based systems thus start from around R40 000 when combining the price of an inverter and the batteries you will need to charge from mains if you do not have any solar panels. Yet this entry-level system would provide limited power, thus it would be better to look at a hybrid system that you can grow over time. With the Versofy Rental Program you can afford to start small and grow your system.
Pricing inverter plus battery installations: Factor in maintenance/replacement
Another matter to consider when finding an inverter for solar with battery price ranges in your budget is the cost of replacement and maintenance.
An inverter with a higher build quality from a better-known or more reputable brand may cost a little more initially. However, in the long term maintenance and replacement could well be lower due to more reliable and durable performance. Versofy has a number of brands that we have approved to be offered on our Solar Rental Program. These include:
| Brand | Price | Warranty | Sizes |
 Victron | $$$ | 5 Years | 7kVa, 10kVa, 16kVa, 24kVa |
 SunSynk | $$ | 5 Years | 5kVa, 8kVa |
 GoodWe | $$ | 5 Years | 3.6kVa, 4.6kVa, 5kVa |
Before you need solar panels, you can get started with a battery and inverter setup to prepare for going off the grid. Contact us today for a quote with details about your consumption, and we can recommend the perfect backup installation for your energy needs.
| Brand | Price | Warranty | Sizes |
 Freedom Won | $$$ | 10 Years | 5kWh, 10kWh, 15kWh, 20kWh, 30kWh |
 Pylontech | $$ | 10 Years | 2.4kWh, 2.55kWh, 3.5kWh, 7kWh, 9.6kWh |
 Bull | $$ | 10 Years | 5.1kWh, |
