System types
Hybrid vs off-grid solar in South Africa — what’s the difference?
A hybrid system stays connected to the municipal or Eskom grid so you can cut imported kWh, ride time-of-use tariffs and still use batteries for evening peaks or outages. A true off-grid system is designed to run without the utility — larger storage, often a generator, stricter load discipline. For most South African suburban homes, hybrid is the consumer-safe default for savings; off-grid is for farms, lodges and sites where the grid is absent or hopelessly unreliable.
Why this confuses buyers
Sales language sometimes calls any battery system “off-grid capable”. Technically many hybrids can island — but they still rely on the grid to recharge when PV is short, and they still need SSEG registration when connected.
Hybrid (grid-tied + battery)
Export rules and tariffs still apply. Best bill + backup balance for cities and towns.
Off-grid
No utility interconnection (or intentional isolation). Oversized PV/battery, genset common. Higher capex and design risk if undersized.
Backup-only UPS style
Little or no PV — battery charged from grid. Helps short outages; poor for multi-hour Stage 6 without PV recharge.
Consumer protection tip
If someone quotes “off-grid” for a house that still has a prepaid or postpaid municipal meter, ask them to put in writing: will the system remain grid-connected, who files SSEG, and what happens on cloudy Stage 6 days. Undersized “off-grid” marketing is a common disappointment.