Solar Power for Macassar, Somerset West – 100 kW Industrial Warehouse Solar Installation

First Energy Solar Installers has completed a 100 kW grid-tied solar installation at an industrial warehouse in Macassar, Somerset West, a short drive from our technical department. The array of 212 × 550 W glass-on-glass panels (116.6 kWp) feeds two 50 kW three-phase inverters and is expected to generate at least 197,287 kWh a year – cutting the client’s carbon emissions by more than 81 tons annually.

The brief: lower running costs for a Helderberg warehouse

Warehousing and light industry in Macassar and the Helderberg industrial areas run from early morning to late afternoon on City of Cape Town commercial tariffs. The brief was to cover that daytime load with a straightforward grid-tied system on the warehouse’s large IBR roof, registered with the City.

The solution: 212 panels on two 50 kW inverters

• 212 × 550 W glass-on-glass solar panels (116.6 kWp)
• 2 × 50 kW three-phase grid-tied inverters
• Roof-mounted on aluminium rails with SSEG-compliant DC and AC protection and surge protection
• Online monitoring of generation and consumption
• Electrical Certificate of Compliance and City of Cape Town SSEG registration handled by First Energy

Two 50 kW inverters match the warehouse’s distribution boards and give redundancy, while the 116.6 kWp array keeps generation strong through winter.

The results

• Estimated annual generation: 197,287 kWh – roughly 16,440 kWh a month
• Carbon avoided: over 81 tons of CO₂ per year
• Daytime energy charges largely replaced by self-generated power

Commercial savings depend on the tariff, the share of consumption that falls in daylight hours and the demand profile, which is why we log the load before we design. See how we model payback, NPV and IRR for commercial solar.

Commercial solar installers in Macassar, Somerset West and the Helderberg

Our technical department is in Somerset West, so Macassar, Firgrove, Strand, Gordon’s Bay and the Helderberg industrial areas are home ground. See our Somerset West solar installation page and our commercial solar page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 100 kW commercial solar system cost in Cape Town?
Indicatively R1.0 million to R1.3 million excluding VAT for a grid-tied system with glass-on-glass panels, before the Section 12B tax allowance. See our commercial solar page for spend brackets.

Does a commercial solar system need SSEG registration?
Yes. Every grid-connected system must be registered as small-scale embedded generation with the City of Cape Town or the local municipality, using an approved inverter. First Energy handles the application, the Certificate of Compliance and commissioning.

Can the business claim the Section 12B tax allowance?
Yes. Solar PV generating under 1 MW can be written off in full against taxable income in the year it is brought into use (the enhanced 125% allowance ended on 28 February 2025). Confirm the treatment with your accountant.

Commercial solar for your business in Somerset West and the Helderberg

Send us 12 months of electricity bills and we will come back with a preliminary design, system size, cost and payback for your premises – request a free commercial solar assessment. Call 087 148 2012 or WhatsApp 084 597 1279. See our commercial solar installations in Cape Town and the Western Cape page for spend brackets, finance options and more case studies.