For over 23 years, ooba Group has been helping South Africans secure the best deal on their home loans. Now, with the official launch of ooba Solar, ooba Group is delivering that same expertise to home solar financing and installations.
“Our latest service offering, ooba Solar can be made available to existing customers and the market at large to unlock energy independence for as many South Africans as possible,” explains Dominique dHotman, ooba Group’s Chief Strategy Officer and Head of ooba Solar.
While many South Africans are enthusiastic about the benefits that solar installation can bring, barriers to entry include the hefty upfront costs, complex installation process, significant delays due to a surge in demand and the risk of unreliable suppliers and equipment, and poor workmanship.
“That is ooba Solar’s clear differentiator as we are there from start to finish. We help homeowners understand their specific needs, obtain comparative quotes from vetted solar suppliers, help you secure financing and our team oversees the installation process until completed to your satisfaction.”
“We currently have several of South Africa’s leading solar suppliers within our network and have used our long-standing relationship with the country’s biggest financial institutions to provide several financing options. Many homeowners are unaware that you can get financing as part of your home loan application, and we are on-hand to decipher the banks differing financing and lending criteria.”
He adds that customers are also able to select a solar financing add-on when applying for a home loan, a streamlined and integrated way to ensure energy independence when buying a new home.[JA1] [Dd2]
South Africa’s solar landscape
Loadshedding has ramped up significantly in the last two years, with EskomSePush predicting that 2023 will be the worst year to date. As of May, South Africa had already experienced 2,422 hours of loadshedding.
This has understandably driven many households to explore alternative power generation options, with solar power quickly emerging as one of the most popular. R3.6 billion worth of solar panels were imported into South Africa in Q1 2023 – three times as much as the previous quarter according to an economist from Trade, Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS).
“The majority of solar components are manufactured overseas, and skyrocketing demand has resulted in many South Africans who wish to install solar facing lengthy delays,” explains dHotman.
The process is also complex with different municipalities have different regulations and specific equipment requirements, as getting started with solar power you need a certified installer to connect your solar panels to a council-approved inverter and energy-storing batteries. And, with the costs of a traditional full solar installation running anywhere between R60,000 and R400,000, it’s crucial that you choose a vetted and quality-checked supplier or risk making a costly mistake.
ooba Solar exists to make home solar accessible to all South African homeowners and takes the risk out of the equation by offering expert independent advice, sourcing multiple comparative quotes and connecting customers with reputable, vetted installers. “Our quality guarantee means that we'll make sure your solar installation is completed on time and within budget to the highest standard,” dHotman adds.
How ooba Solar works
To break down cost barriers and make solar energy accessible to as many South Africans as possible, ooba Solar has partnered with suppliers that offer solar solutions at a variety of price points. These range from entry-level inverter and battery options to full solar panels, which can either be finance as part of an existing home loan, by setting up a new home loan, purchased outright or financed by means of a ‘rent-to-own’ option.
“That’s why our early consultations are such a crucial part of the ooba Solar installation process,” says dHotman. “We work closely with you to ensure that the quotes we share reflect your specific lifestyle and affordability requirements.”
The company’s four -step journey to solar installation works as follows:
1) Get in touch with an ooba Solar advisor to understand your specific needs.
2) Using their comparative quoting and advice tools, ooba Solar will source comparative quotes for your home’s specific needs.
3) ooba Solar will advise on the best way to finance your project.
4) Once the quote and financing are approved, ooba Solar will schedule an installation date that suits you and stay in touch throughout the project to ensure the installation runs smoothly.
“Solar power is a significant financial investment, and our customers benefit from the knowledge that we have considered all their options holistically and independently, unlike solar installers who can only really offer one – their own,” says dHotman.
“We believe that this unique approach gives customers the best chance of getting the right solution at the right price point, on their first try. This allows them to focus on what matters most, enjoying their energy independence,” he concludes.
