Nelson Mandela Bay residents can now connect renewable energy sources to national grid

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.

Potential for a significant impact

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. Based on the average Port Elizabeth wind speed of five metres per second, the popular Kestrel e160i can produce 333kWh/monthly and two solar panels will produce 1,800kWh/month, so home owners will not need to purchase electricity, saving R1373/month.

Leon Gouws, sales and marketing director of Port Elizabeth's Kestrel Renewable Energy explained the importance of this development: "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.

"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."

For more information, go to www.kestrelwind.co.za.