South Africa is home to some of the world's most spectacular remote lodge destinations — from the Limpopo bushveld to the Karoo plains and the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. But running a remote lodge means confronting an energy challenge that grid-connected businesses never face: how do you deliver a world-class guest experience when the nearest power line is 50 kilometres away?
Off-grid solar has transformed the economics and reliability of remote lodge power. Where diesel generators once meant constant noise, fuel logistics, high running costs, and regular breakdowns, a modern solar-plus-storage system delivers silent, reliable, sustainable power — often at a lower total cost over time. This guide covers everything you need to know to design, size, and invest in the right system for your lodge.
Every off-grid system starts with a detailed energy audit. Unlike urban properties where you can check a utility bill, a remote lodge energy assessment must account for:
South Africa is exceptionally well-positioned for solar generation. Most of the country receives 4.5–6.5 peak sun hours per day, with inland areas like Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Free State at the higher end.
To size your solar array:
Example: A lodge consuming 120kWh/day in Limpopo: 120 ÷ 5 × 1.25 = 30kWp minimum solar array.
| Lodge Type | Daily Consumption | Solar Array Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bush camp (4–6 units) | 40–80kWh | 12kWp – 25kWp | Minimal appliances, fans not AC |
| Mid-range lodge (8–12 units) | 80–180kWh | 25kWp – 55kWp | Full kitchen, some AC |
| Luxury lodge (12–20 units) | 180–350kWh | 55kWp – 110kWp | Full AC, pool, spa, large kitchen |
| Large resort (20+ units) | 350kWh+ | 110kWp+ | Multiple inverters, custom design |
Unlike a grid-tied system that can rely on the grid at night, an off-grid lodge must store enough energy to power through the night and cloudy periods. Battery sizing is critical.
A conservative rule for lodge applications: store at least 1.5 days of consumption in your battery bank. This provides cover for one full overcast day without generator backup. For high-end lodges where generator use must be invisible to guests, 2 days of storage is preferred.
Example: 120kWh/day lodge → 120 × 1.5 = 180kWh usable battery capacity.
For remote lodge applications, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is strongly recommended:
The higher upfront cost of lithium is consistently justified in remote lodge applications, where the cost of logistics, downtime, and replacement at a distant location amplifies the value of longevity and reliability.
A large lodge will typically require a three-phase inverter system or multiple single-phase inverters configured in parallel. Key considerations:
Popular choices for commercial lodge applications include Victron Energy, SMA, and Growatt commercial inverters. Victron is particularly popular in South African remote applications for its robust remote monitoring (VRM portal) and proven field reliability.
Even with a properly sized off-grid solar system, most remote lodges retain a backup diesel or LPG generator. This is not a failure of the solar system — it's prudent engineering for a business that cannot afford guest-facing power failures.
The key shift is in how the generator is used:
Size your generator to cover your lodge's full load plus charge the batteries in reasonable time (typically a generator sized at 30–50% of peak solar array capacity works well as backup).
Electric geysers are the single biggest energy consumer in most accommodation properties. A single 150L geyser uses 3kWh to heat from cold. Multiply by 10 chalets and you have 30kWh just for hot water — 25% of total daily consumption in our mid-range lodge example.
Strategies for remote lodge hot water:
Beyond the operational economics, solar power creates real marketing value for South African lodges. International visitors in particular — from Europe, the UK, the US, and Australasia — are increasingly choosing accommodation based on sustainability credentials.
A fully solar-powered lodge can legitimately market:
Many lodge owners report that solar power allows them to command a modest premium on room rates while improving occupancy from eco-conscious travellers — adding revenue that further improves ROI. See our analysis of Solar ROI for South African businesses for the numbers.
| System Configuration | Approx. Installed Cost |
|---|---|
| 15kWp solar + 40kWh lithium battery + 10kVA inverter | R600,000 – R900,000 |
| 30kWp solar + 80kWh lithium + 20kVA inverter | R1.1M – R1.7M |
| 60kWp solar + 160kWh lithium + 40kVA inverter | R2.2M – R3.2M |
| 100kWp solar + 300kWh lithium + 60kVA inverter | R3.8M – R5.5M |
Prices vary significantly based on location (transport and installation costs increase with remoteness), equipment specification, and current exchange rates for imported components.
The most important investment before committing to a system is a proper energy audit and site assessment. A reputable installer will visit your property, assess your load profile, analyse your sun hours and shading, and design a system specifically for your lodge's needs.
Be wary of generic quotes generated without a site visit — remote lodge solar systems are custom engineering projects, not off-the-shelf products.
Contact us to discuss your lodge's requirements or explore our off-grid solutions for more information.
Costs vary enormously based on lodge size and energy demand. A small 4-chalet bush lodge might need a 15kWp system with 40kWh battery storage, costing R600,000–R900,000 installed. A larger 20-chalet luxury lodge may require 80kWp+ with 200kWh+ storage, at R3M–R6M. The comparison is always made against the alternative: grid connection cost (which can be R500,000–R5M for a remote site) plus ongoing grid tariffs, or diesel generator running costs.
Yes, but EV charging adds significant load and must be planned for in system design. A standard 7kW home charger running for 4 hours adds 28kWh to your daily demand — equivalent to powering several chalets. If you want to offer EV charging, size your solar and battery system to accommodate it and consider time-of-day restrictions (charge during peak solar hours only).
Most remote lodges retain a backup generator even with a full off-grid solar system. The generator serves as a backup for extended cloudy periods, unusual high-demand events, or system maintenance. However, with a well-sized solar and battery system, generator runtime typically drops to less than 5% of total operating hours — saving 95%+ of your diesel costs.
A well-designed off-grid system is completely invisible to guests — the experience is identical to grid power. Guests get reliable lighting, working appliances, hot water, air conditioning (if designed for), and phone charging without interruption. Many lodges actively market their solar-powered, eco-friendly status as a selling point that attracts environmentally conscious guests.
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is strongly recommended for remote lodge applications. The longer lifespan (10+ years), deeper discharge capability, and reduced maintenance requirements are critical advantages when you cannot easily service batteries at a remote location. The higher upfront cost is justified by the reduced replacement and maintenance burden over the system lifetime.