Solar Power for Kayamandi High School, Stellenbosch – 50 kW Solar Installation

First Energy Solar Installers has completed a 50 kW grid-tied solar installation at Kayamandi High School in Stellenbosch, as part of the Western Cape Education Department’s programme to put solar on public schools. Eighty-five 550 W glass-on-glass panels feed a 50 kW Deye three-phase inverter, and the system is expected to generate at least 79,101 kWh a year – avoiding more than 32 tons of CO₂ annually.

The brief: cut the school’s electricity bill and keep classrooms running

Schools are an excellent fit for solar: their consumption happens almost entirely in daylight hours, on weekdays, exactly when the panels produce. The brief from the WCED was a robust, low-maintenance system that would cut the school’s electricity costs, be safe around learners, and be installed without disrupting teaching.

The solution: 85 panels on a 50 kW Deye three-phase inverter

• 85 × 550 W glass-on-glass solar panels (46.8 kWp)
• 1 × 50 kW Deye three-phase hybrid inverter, installed grid-tied and ready for a battery
• 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 SSEG registration with Stellenbosch Municipality handled by First Energy

Glass-on-glass modules were specified for their fire performance and 30-year life, and the Deye hybrid inverter allows a battery to be added later so the school can keep running through outages.

The results

• Estimated annual generation: 79,101 kWh – roughly 6,600 kWh a month
• Carbon avoided: over 32 tons of CO₂ per year
• Weekday daytime consumption now largely supplied by solar

Read more about our work with the WCED and how solar keeps learning uninterrupted.

Solar installers for schools in Stellenbosch and the Winelands

We install for schools, estates and businesses across Stellenbosch, Kayamandi, Franschhoek, Paarl and the Cape Winelands. See our Stellenbosch solar installation page and our Delft Primary School 50 kW installation.

Frequently asked questions

Why is solar such a good fit for schools?
Almost all of a school’s electricity is used on weekdays between 07:00 and 15:00, which is exactly when solar produces. Very little generation is wasted, so payback is faster than for most homes.

Can the school add a battery for load shedding?
Yes. The 50 kW Deye inverter is a hybrid unit, so a lithium battery can be added to keep classrooms, offices and IT running through outages.

Does a school solar system need to be registered?
Yes. Grid-connected systems must be registered with the supply authority – in this case Stellenbosch Municipality. First Energy handles the application and the Certificate of Compliance.

Commercial solar for your business in Stellenbosch and the Winelands

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.