Assessing effectiveness and reliability of current solar systems implemented in residential units

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dc.contributor.advisorTerblanche, Rolien
dc.contributor.authorChapara, Tafadzwa
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-18T13:19:53Z
dc.date.available2026-06-18T13:19:53Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.date.updated2026-06-18T13:16:58Z
dc.description.abstractIn South Africa, the surge in the adoption of solar home systems, driven by frequent load shedding, has resulted in an influx of companies engaged in the sales and installation of these systems. A notable challenge has emerged as varying lifetimes of solar home systems among different installation companies indicate potential quality issues. The main challenges in the operability of solar home systems stem from two primary issues: incorrect design and installation, and system reliability. These issues are primarily caused by inaccurate load estimation and limited expertise in solar power systems. The study aims to determine the challenges homeowners face owning solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in residential settings across South Africa. The study aims to interview nine homeowners with a PV system and includes responses from twenty individuals who completed questionnaires. The data will be analysed using thematic analysis to generate theory-building findings. Semi-structured open-ended questions were asked. The study found several key challenges faced by residential solar system owners in South Africa. Installation and setup difficulties are prevalent, with many systems being installed incorrectly and not optimized, leading to excessive reliance on the grid. Technical and equipment issues further impact system performance. Other challenges are financial and operational, user experience and understanding, support, and service. This study is limited by a small sample and an interpretivistic philosophy. Future studies should focus on testing a larger number of systems regarding reliability and cost-benefit. Understanding solar operational unique challenges and reliability issues in this context can pave the way for tailored policies and initiatives. Addressing the challenges of solar systems contributes to the shift from traditional energy practices and this evolution is essential for modernizing residential energy solutions. Finally, if reliability is addressed, then the cost-benefit could be a more accurate calculation, which is critical in project management. While the benefits of solar panels are well known, it is unknown if the installed systems are living up to the desired practical and cost-saving expectations, due to the lack of experts in the field.
dc.identifier.apacitationChapara, T. (2026). <i>Assessing effectiveness and reliability of current solar systems implemented in residential units</i>. (). Unversity of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment ,Department of Construction Economics and Management. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43332en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChapara, Tafadzwa. <i>"Assessing effectiveness and reliability of current solar systems implemented in residential units."</i> ., Unversity of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment ,Department of Construction Economics and Management, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43332en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChapara, T. 2026. Assessing effectiveness and reliability of current solar systems implemented in residential units. . Unversity of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment ,Department of Construction Economics and Management. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43332en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Chapara, Tafadzwa AB - In South Africa, the surge in the adoption of solar home systems, driven by frequent load shedding, has resulted in an influx of companies engaged in the sales and installation of these systems. A notable challenge has emerged as varying lifetimes of solar home systems among different installation companies indicate potential quality issues. The main challenges in the operability of solar home systems stem from two primary issues: incorrect design and installation, and system reliability. These issues are primarily caused by inaccurate load estimation and limited expertise in solar power systems. The study aims to determine the challenges homeowners face owning solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in residential settings across South Africa. The study aims to interview nine homeowners with a PV system and includes responses from twenty individuals who completed questionnaires. The data will be analysed using thematic analysis to generate theory-building findings. Semi-structured open-ended questions were asked. The study found several key challenges faced by residential solar system owners in South Africa. Installation and setup difficulties are prevalent, with many systems being installed incorrectly and not optimized, leading to excessive reliance on the grid. Technical and equipment issues further impact system performance. Other challenges are financial and operational, user experience and understanding, support, and service. This study is limited by a small sample and an interpretivistic philosophy. Future studies should focus on testing a larger number of systems regarding reliability and cost-benefit. Understanding solar operational unique challenges and reliability issues in this context can pave the way for tailored policies and initiatives. Addressing the challenges of solar systems contributes to the shift from traditional energy practices and this evolution is essential for modernizing residential energy solutions. Finally, if reliability is addressed, then the cost-benefit could be a more accurate calculation, which is critical in project management. While the benefits of solar panels are well known, it is unknown if the installed systems are living up to the desired practical and cost-saving expectations, due to the lack of experts in the field. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - solar photovoltaic systems KW - South Africa LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - Unversity of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - Assessing effectiveness and reliability of current solar systems implemented in residential units TI - Assessing effectiveness and reliability of current solar systems implemented in residential units UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43332 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43332
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChapara T. Assessing effectiveness and reliability of current solar systems implemented in residential units. []. Unversity of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment ,Department of Construction Economics and Management, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43332en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Construction Economics and Management
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUnversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectsolar photovoltaic systems
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.titleAssessing effectiveness and reliability of current solar systems implemented in residential units
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMSc
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