Buyers and tenants now ask about solar, backup power and running costs before they look at finishes. Developers who plan electricity properly at design stage build more marketable properties and avoid expensive retrofits. Thermo Group is an electrical, plumbing and solar contractor that designs and installs solar PV for housing estates, sectional title complexes, commercial developments and mixed-use projects across the Western Cape.
Thinking about solar in Cape Town?
Free solar quotes, no obligation. Installation and City registration handled for you.
Why include solar at the design stage
Solar is far cheaper and neater when it is part of the build. Roof pitch, orientation, cable routes, DB positions and meter arrangements can all be planned around it, instead of fitted afterwards. For buyers, a system already on the roof is a selling point and a lower running cost, and for the developer it can be a point of difference when units look alike.
What we offer developers
- Rooftop solar for complexes and estates: shared systems for common areas, or individual systems per unit.
- Battery and backup options: to keep lights, gates, security and fibre running through outages.
- Standardised packages: repeatable designs for similar units, which keeps cost and programme predictable.
- Commercial and industrial buildings: rooftop arrays on warehouses, retail and offices, sized around tenants’ loads.
- Compliance: electrical Certificates of Compliance, solar compliance and municipal registration for each system.
- Electrical and plumbing under one contractor: including solar geysers and gas where specified.
How we work with developers
We prefer to be involved early. Send us your layout, unit count and specification, and we will advise on design options, then quote in writing with clear inclusions. We coordinate with your electrical contractor and project manager, work to your programme and certify as work completes. For larger or phased developments we can set up repeat packages so each phase is quoted and installed consistently.
What we need to quote
- Site or layout plans, with roof types and orientation.
- The number and type of units, and whether solar is per unit or shared.
- Your electrical specification and the supplying authority (municipality or Eskom).
- Your programme and phasing.
- Any heritage, estate or design rules for visible panels.
Where we work
We cover the Cape Winelands, the Swartland and West Coast, the Overberg, the Garden Route and the Klein Karoo and Cederberg, as well as Cape Town and the Southern Suburbs, Northern Suburbs and the Helderberg.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth including in a new development? In most cases, yes. It is cheaper to include at design stage, appeals to buyers and tenants, and reduces running costs for owners.
Can you supply a system per unit? Yes. We can quote individual systems for each unit, shared systems for common areas, or a mix.
Do you handle registration with the municipality? Yes. We submit the application for each system and supply the electrical Certificate of Compliance.
Can you work on phased developments? Yes. We can standardise packages so each phase is quoted and installed consistently.
Do you offer maintenance after handover? Yes. We offer maintenance plans for the systems we install, including shared systems for body corporates and homeowners’ associations. See our solar maintenance service.
Get a solar quote for your development
Send us a recent electricity bill and a few details about your site. Request a solar quote or read about our solar installations, solar maintenance and solar certificate of compliance services. For farms, see our farm solar guide.