Hi everyone!
Is it not time that this government of ours, allows us to install Grid-Tied power systems so that we as private individuals can support the grid power crisis?
There a many countries that offer grants to their citizens, such as Australia, where they grant $AUD 8 per watt to a max of $AUD 2000 for a certified solar electricity system. Thats about R96,000.00 here in SA! Just think what you could do with that money towards your "solar system" or Hybrid system.
If we could "sell back" power to the grid, this would make our system cheaper by reducing the need for that big "Battery Bank". The grid would become your "Battery Bank". You would only need enough batteries to keep you going for a few hours, after that you could possible switch over to a genset (for extreme cases). The batteries in any system are the most costly item (in the long run), they have to be replaced.
We need to put some pressure on the government and Eskom (who seem to really not be interested in allowing this to happen).
If we are given the incentive to reduce our "carbon footprint" (other than your personal morals about this problem facing the planet), by installing solar, wind, hydro, bio, or feul cell power systems, then many more people would make the change to "alternative power" systems. This would reduce global warming.