Quick answer
For a typical 5kW hybrid system in Johannesburg you generally need eight to ten 450W panels. The real answer depends on roof orientation, how much of your consumption happens during daylight, and what you want the battery to achieve overnight. North-facing roof space is worth considerably more than the same area facing east or west, and shading matters more than most people expect.
What you can do now
- 1Gather twelve months of electricity bills so sizing is based on data rather than estimates
- 2Note your roof orientation and pitch, and photograph anything that casts shade
- 3Work out how much of your usage happens in daylight, which determines how much goes to the battery
- 4Measure usable roof area, allowing for edge clearances and access
- 5Consider whether east-west split arrays suit your usage pattern better than pure north
When to call a professional
Get a site survey covering roof orientation, shading analysis and a year of actual utility data. Beware any quote produced without seeing the roof — shading from a single tree or a neighbour's chimney can cost a whole string's output. Ask for the modelled annual yield in kWh so you can compare quotes on outcome rather than panel count.
Typical cost in Johannesburg
5kW system R150,000–R220,000
Indicative ranges only. We provide written, itemised quotes before any work.
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