June 21 2024 18:00

Thomas Bergenthuin
A new company offering an array of solar energy products and services, called The Bees has launched in Cape Town, bringing the choices which smart South Africans have been desperate for.
Founder Thomas Bergenthuin says while numerous people have adopted alternative energy solutions which is helping to change the country’s national energy mix, the majority of South African homes still rely on coal-fired energy. Load-shedding paused in the run up to the national elections but the country’s grid will come under pressure again soon.
Bergenthuin developed The Bees in Cape Town to encourage more people to embrace alternative energy solutions which save them money in the long run and alleviate the detriments to the environment.
He says that given that the country still has a reliance on coal-fired energy, the threat of load-shedding is never far off, but that the move to alternative energy solutions, is making a significant impact in taking pressure off the grid.
According to the latest Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) report, South Africa saw the largest increase in solar installations in African history over two consecutive years being 2022 and 2023.
But the rush to avoid loadshedding means current solar systems are not as efficient as they could be
According to Bergenthuin, historically when solar systems were installed in the rush to avoid loadshedding, they were installed without consideration for the efficiency of the entire residential ecosystem. For example, the relative sizing of the equipment, settings of the inverters and inclusion of water heating systems were not always considered.
“The drive to install alternative energy systems was initially premised on avoiding loadshedding. The solar industry was promoting rooftop panels as the best solution, when in fact a battery could do the job all the same, and a lot of short cuts such as sizing the systems incorrectly, ignoring system demand and efficiency and installing systems with the incorrect settings were taken. But these panels now make sense given price decreases and Eskom tariff increases. With a few small changes to current and new systems, homeowners can ensure maximum energy output and financial savings,” he says.
This at a time when globally solar equipment prices have dropped by up to 60% over the past year, and Eskom tariffs are on the rise with many expecting tariffs to double over the next five years.
In 2024, Eskom increased the price of electricity that it sells to municipalities by 12.72%. Some say this is just the tip of the iceberg, and that South Africans who are already struggling to make ends meet can expect even more tariff hikes this year. Ironically the shift away from Eskom to private sources of generation is contributing to the required tariff increases given a dwindling revenue stream to the state utility, Bergenthuin says.
“What used to be a grudge purchase for South Africans who felt they needed to ‘go solar’ because of loadshedding is now steadily becoming the natural next step for citizens. Not just to circumvent possible power cuts, but to navigate the rising cost of electricity,” he says.
Transitioning to solar energy can save the average South African household anything from 30-70% on their energy bills. The Bees is promoting affordable financing options for solar solutions.
Making finance options easily accessible for citizens has been a key component of Bergenthuin’s offering with his new company, The Bees, so that middle-class families can embrace solar without breaking the bank. He founded the company in June 2024, after identifying a gap in the solar installation market for a holistic approach to energy solutions that offers high-quality efficient systems, but with affordable and tailored financing options.
“I believe this is a good time for South Africans to continue to invest in alternative ways of powering up their homes, so that we can maintain and build more momentum for sustainable long-term respite from power cuts. Together we can put loadshedding behind us, build a greener South Africa, all with the added bonus of saving money,” Bergenthuin says.
The Bees aims to install 100MW of solar systems nationwide across residential and commercial properties within the next five years.
For those looking into solar, Bergenthuin shares three ways that you can source the finance for your installation:
- Consider adding the cost of the solar system to your home loan should there be the required equity available. This will enable you to repay the cost over a long tenor and at the most competitive interest rates.
- Look at the solar loan offerings made available by SA’s major banks – most banks now offer solar financing solutions. While some of the offerings can be limiting in terms of the packages available, if you shop around, you can find the right fit for your needs.
- Partner with a finance approved solar installation company – working with a solar company who handles all the financing for you can streamline the process. Some solar providers get better deals as they have secured partnership agreements in place. This enables more tailored and customised solutions. .
- Consider services such as ‘paying for generated electricity only’ or ‘rent to own’ equipment.
alistair@propertyflash.co.za