Cape Town Solar Installer: Beat Eskom Prices Like the City
Cape Town has just switched on something new for South Africa: a City-built solar and battery power plant in Atlantis. If the City can make its own cheaper power and lean less on Eskom, so can your home or business. As a local Cape Town solar installer based in Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, Sundial Solar helps households and companies across the Western Cape do exactly that, with solar and battery systems designed around how you actually use electricity.
What the Atlantis solar plant means for Cape Town
On 8 October 2026, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis launched the Helderhoop Solar and Storage Power Plant in Atlantis, which the City calls South Africa’s first metro-built hybrid power station. The name means “Bright Hope” and was proposed by Atlantis matriculant Vinolio Cloete, as the community marks its 50th anniversary.
In the Mayor’s words, the City is “reducing our dependence on Eskom’s expensive electricity prices to make electricity more affordable for Capetonians.” Credit where it’s due: this is a big step for the city.
The plant at a glance
Cost: R220 million.
Size: 12 850 solar panels and two utility-scale batteries on 15 hectares, roughly 21 rugby fields.
Capacity: 7 MW of solar to start, with potential to scale up to 10 MW. The batteries have a rated output of 5 MW and 8 MWh of usable storage.
Timeline: the sod was turned in October 2024. Construction is now complete, and the plant is running under controlled test conditions as part of commissioning.
Jobs: around 305 jobs were created during construction.
Savings: the City says the plant’s power is much cheaper than Eskom’s and will save residents at least R400 million over the next 20 years.
Part of a bigger energy plan
Helderhoop is one piece of the City’s long-term energy strategy. The City has signed power purchase agreements with independent producers at up to 21% below Eskom rates, as part of an initial procurement of up to 200 MW. It is also preparing a 70 MW City-owned solar and battery plant at Paardevlei by 2029. During the extended Eskom crisis, the City reports that it shielded customers from 24% of load-shedding.
Rising Eskom and City electricity tariffs
NERSA approved an average 9.01% Eskom increase for municipalities from 1 July 2026, and 8.76% for Eskom’s direct customers from 1 April 2026.
The City’s own 2026/27 tariffs took effect on 1 July 2026. Lifeline customers saw an 8.65% increase, and the per-unit rates on the prepaid Domestic tariff went up by about 5.8% to 6.3%. Back in 2024, the City noted that it spends 75% of its electricity tariff income buying power from Eskom.
Every kilowatt-hour your roof produces is one you don’t have to buy.
Why solar makes sense for Cape Town homes and businesses
For homeowners
The Western Cape gets plenty of sun, and most homes use a lot of power in the morning and evening. A well-designed hybrid system covers your daytime use, charges a battery for the evening, and cuts what you buy from the grid.
For businesses
Businesses usually use most of their power during the day, exactly when the panels produce the most. That makes commercial solar a strong investment for offices, shops, workshops and farms. Add the Section 12B tax incentive (more below) and the numbers get even better.
SSEG registration: sell your excess power back to the City
In Cape Town, any solar system connected to your electrical supply is a small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) system, and it must be authorised by the City before it is installed. Registration is free, but the City can charge a fee if you don’t register. Your installer applies on your behalf, using an inverter from the City’s approved list.
If you choose a feed-in system, you can sell your excess power back to the City:
The City installs a bi-directional (AMI) meter, at your cost.
Power you export is credited at the City’s SSEG feed-in tariff, and that credit can offset your entire municipal account, not just electricity.
Through the Cash for Power programme, credit left over after your account is offset can be paid out: once a year for homes (above R1 000) and monthly for businesses (above R5 000).
It’s working. The City says residents and businesses have earned R67 million by selling 150 GWh of excess solar power since June 2024. Sundial Solar handles the SSEG paperwork with you, so your system is safe, legal and ready to earn.
Commercial rooftop solar installation on a Western Cape business roof
Battery backup: keep the lights on
The Atlantis plant pairs panels with batteries for a reason. Batteries store cheap daytime solar for the evening peak, and they keep your essentials running during outages or load-shedding. We size batteries around what matters to you, whether that’s lights, Wi-Fi, the fridge and the gate motor, or a whole-home backup.
Hybrid inverter and solar battery backup wall installed by Sundial Solar
Solar finance options
You don’t need to pay for everything upfront. You can pay cash, or use solar finance so your monthly repayment works alongside your lower electricity bill. Sundial Solar handles your finance application from start to finish, so you can go solar sooner.
Sundial Solar your local cape solar installer has partnered with ooba and Jaltech to provide both residential and commercial solar in the cape and across the nation.
Section 12B: a 100% write-off for businesses
Businesses can claim a 100% deduction in the first year under Section 12B of the Income Tax Act for solar PV assets of up to 1 MW. The business must own the system (or buy it on an instalment credit agreement), and it must be brought into use for the first time for trade purposes. The temporary 125% deduction under Section 12BA ended on 28 February 2025, but the standard 100% write-off still applies. Please confirm what qualifies, including batteries, with your tax practitioner.
How to choose a Cape Town solar installer
There are many solar installers in Cape Town, and the cheapest quote isn’t always the best value. Here’s what to check.
Accredited and certified
Ask for proof of industry certification, such as SAPVIA’s PV GreenCard. Your installer should also issue an electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC).
Registered and compliant
Make sure your installer handles SSEG authorisation with the City, uses an approved inverter, and gets the required professional sign-off. An unregistered system can cause problems with insurance, property sales and your municipal account.
Local after-sales care from your local Cape Solar Installer
Solar is a 20-year relationship. Choose a Cape solar installer close by who will answer the phone, monitor your system and help with warranty claims.
Sundial Solar the leading Cape Solar installer ticks every box: SAPVIA-certified, registered installers; accredited and fully insured engineers; equipment with 10 to 25-year manufacturer warranties; and a Cape Town team handling everything from design to handover. We’re also the installation partner for EnergyBee.
Get a quote from Sundial Solar a Cape Solar Installer
The City is going solar to beat Eskom prices. You can too. Tell us about your home or business and we’ll design a system that fits your roof, your usage and your budget.
Get your free solar quote, or call Neil and the team on 082 901 7452.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register my solar system with the City of Cape Town?
Yes. Every grid-connected solar system must be authorised by the City before it is installed. Registration is free, and a reputable installer will handle the application for you.
Can I sell solar power back to the City of Cape Town?
Yes. With an approved feed-in system and a bi-directional meter, your exports are credited against your whole municipal account. Leftover credit can be paid out through the City’s Cash for Power programme.
Does the Section 12B solar tax incentive still apply in 2026?
Yes. Businesses can deduct 100% of the cost of qualifying solar PV assets of up to 1 MW in the first year they’re used for trade. The 125% Section 12BA incentive ended in February 2025.
Do I need a battery with my solar system?
Not always, but a battery lets you use solar power in the evening and keeps essentials running during outages or load-shedding. We’ll help you decide based on your budget and needs.
How long does a solar installation take?
Most residential installations take two to four days once approvals are in place, depending on system size and your property.