NuPower Solar
NuPower Solar is a South African solar integrator founded in 2008 that designs, supplies, and installs solar water heating and photovoltaic (PV) systems — using Victron inverters and BlueNova lithium batteries — for residential homeowners, developers, builders, and commercial property owners, primarily across Gauteng and the broader South African market.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What NuPower Solar does
NuPower Solar is a privately held South African solar energy company founded in 2008, headquartered in Alberton, Gauteng, with operational coverage of Johannesburg, Pretoria, and broader regions served through a dealer network. The company originally specialized in solar water heating systems (evacuated tube and flat plate collector technologies), participating in Eskom's IDM and DSM rebate programmes, and expanded into photovoltaic (PV) energy in 2017. Core offerings now span residential PV systems (entry-level 3kVA units from R100,000 to higher-consumption configurations at R220,000), hybrid energy storage systems (ESS), grid-tie commercial systems, and a range of SWH capacities from 150L to 400L plus heat pumps for bulk applications.
The technology stack is built on Victron Energy inverters (EasySolar, MultiPlus, Quattro), BlueNova LifePo4 lithium batteries designed for African ambient temperatures, and A-Grade tier 1 PV panels with 25-year warranties. Most products carry SABS approval with 10-year collector warranties. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales (residential R125,000-R220,000 systems, commercial installations, bulk SWH), professional installation services (in-house teams plus dealer network for non-Gauteng areas), and a recurring service/maintenance contract stream priced from R650 per callout plus monthly debit-order billing. Customers include individual homeowners (primary segment), developers building 40+ units annually, builders, and commercial property owners across shopping centres, production facilities, farming, mining, and healthcare. The company self-reports as the largest residential solar installer in South Africa with 16,500+ SWH systems and 350 PV systems installed over 12+ years of operation.
NuPower Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NuPower Solar
- Legal name
- NuPower Solar
- Website
- https://nupower.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- NuPower Solar is a South African solar integrator founded in 2008 that designs, supplies, and installs solar water heating and photovoltaic (PV) systems — using Victron inverters and BlueNova lithium batteries — for residential homeowners, developers, builders, and commercial property owners, primarily across Gauteng and the broader South African market.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NuPower Solar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Installation Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar Balance-of-System Components (Cables, Combiner Boxes, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAMABAG), Solar Thermal & CSP Systems (Collectors, Receivers, Thermal Storage, CSP EPC) (EUAMABAL), Solar Inverters, Power Electronics & MLPE (String/Central Inverters, Optimizers, Microinverters) (EUAMABAE)
Keywords
Where NuPower Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
NuPower Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Solar System Sales: One-time sales of solar photovoltaic systems, solar water heating systems, and components including panels, inverters, and batteries. Products include residential systems from R125,000 to R220,000, commercial systems, and bulk water heating solutions.
- Installation Services: Installation services provided by in-house installation teams and dealer network. Callout fees start from R650 excluding components.
- Service/Maintenance Contracts: Annual service contracts with 24-hour technical support. Includes component replacement, system checks, and cleaning. Debit order payment system for 12 months. Addresses callout fees and component costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | House 1 (3-Bedroom) - Entry level system |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | House 2 (Average Household) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | House 3 (Higher consumption) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3kVA We Got The Power promotion |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | NuPower Lite 150L DIY Kit |
| Subscription | Monthly | Service/Maintenance Contract |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
NuPower Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NuPower Solar designs, sells and installs solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems (off-grid, grid-tie and hybrid ESS configurations) and solar water heating systems (evacuated tube and flat plate) for residential, commercial and industrial customers in South Africa. Its offerings combine Victron inverters and BlueNova lithium batteries into configured kits (e.g., the 3kVA We Got The Power system from R100,000) and are backed by in-house installation teams, an annual service/maintenance contract and a 24-hour technical support helpline.
Product overview
NuPower Solar is a South African solar energy company offering a portfolio of interconnected solar solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The core product lines are (1) Solar PV (photovoltaic) power systems with battery storage, combining Victron inverters (EasySolar, MultiPlus), BlueNova lithium batteries, and A-Grade tier 1 PV panels; and (2) Solar Water Heating (SWH) systems using evacuated tube and flat plate collector technologies. PV systems are offered in four configurations: Hybrid ESS (energy storage with grid-tie capability), Grid-Tie, Back-Up, and Off-Grid. Residential offerings range from the entry-level 3kVA We Got The Power system (R100,000-R140,000) to full-featured House 3 systems (R220,000). Solar Water Heating includes the NuPower Lite 150L (R125,000+), Evacuated Tube systems (150L-400L), and Flat Plate collectors (300L), with complementary heat pumps for bulk applications. The company also provides service contracts with 24/7 technical support. All products carry SABS approval and warranties ranging from 5 years (collectors) to 25 years (PV panels).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential PV Systems (Off-Grid / Hybrid) Off-grid and hybrid solar electricity systems for individual homes with battery storage, sized to daily consumption (20–25 / 30–35 / 35–45 kWh per day) and designed to reduce grid dependency, avoid load shedding, and lower electricity bills.
- Solar Water Heating Systems (Evacuated Tube & Flat Plate) Direct pumped solar water heating systems using evacuated tube and flat plate collector technologies, available in multiple capacities (150L–400L) and configurations (12V/230V, freeze-resistant), with 10-year warranty on collectors. Used for residential, commercial and industrial hot water supply.
- NuPower Lite 150L DIY Kit Economical 150L direct-configuration solar water heating kit using a 12-tube NuPower vacuum tube collector, marketed as a cost-effective DIY solution for meeting South African national building standards.
- Hybrid ESS (Energy Storage System) Intelligent hybrid systems combining grid-tie functionality with battery backup, including three-phase capable systems for commercial applications. Manage energy storage, grid-tie function, and battery back-up for power failures, with three-phase balancing, intelligent optimization and modular expansion.
- Grid-Tie PV Systems Grid-connected PV systems without battery storage for commercial properties, designed to match daytime load with modular expansion capability and shortest payback periods.
- We Got The Power 3kVA System Entry-level residential solar PV package with a 3kVA Victron EasySolar inverter, 1.6kW A-Grade tier 1 PV panels, Color Control GX monitoring, 5-year inverter warranty and 25-year panel warranty. Targeted at homeowners wanting a starting point for backup power and load-shedding protection.
- Annual Service & Maintenance Contract Recurring annual maintenance contract covering 24-hour technical support, faulty component replacement, system optimization, and on-site checks. Paid via 12-month debit order; covers callout fees and component costs. Available to NuPower Solar system owners.
- Heat Pumps (Bulk Water Heating) Heat pump technology offered for bulk water heating applications in hotels, hospitals and large residential buildings to reduce electricity demand for hot water.
Quantifiable outcome
- Save up to R200 per month on electricity with solar geyser
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use NuPower Solar
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
NuPower Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
NuPower Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- BlueNovacoreBlueNova is a battery technology partner providing LifePo4 Lithium cells with high energy density. BlueNova batteries are specifically designed for African environments with Yttrium chemistry for high ambient temperature operation. Models range from 12V, 24V, 48V systems from 1kWh to 65kWh. Assembled, tested, and technically supported locally.
- Victron EnergycoreVictron Energy provides inverters including MultiPlus, EasySolar, and Quattro inverters. Products include MPPT solar charge controllers, Color Control GX for remote monitoring, and Super AGM batteries. Victron products carry 5-year warranties and feature remote management via VRM website.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
NuPower Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SunPower: SunPower (now part of TotalEnergies) is an established US-headquartered residential solar installer and module manufacturer. While geographically separate from NuPower, it operates the same residential rooftop PV plus storage business model and represents the broad-incumbent reference point for residential solar scale players.
- First Solar: First Solar is a US-listed thin-film PV module manufacturer focused primarily on utility-scale solar projects. It is comparable as a broad incumbent in the solar power value chain, though it does not directly overlap NuPower's residential/SWH installer model.
- Vivint Solar: Vivint Solar is a US residential solar installer and PPA provider that designs, installs, and services rooftop PV systems. Comparable to NuPower as a residential-focused solar installer operating a similar direct-to-homeowner GTM, although operating at larger scale in the US market.
- Tesla Energy: Tesla Energy offers integrated residential solar (Solar Roof) and battery storage (Powerwall) products, plus a global installer network. It is a broad incumbent in the residential solar-plus-storage category that NuPower competes in, though at vastly different scale and geographic footprint.
Others
- Enphase Energy: Enphase is a US-listed manufacturer of microinverters and battery storage for residential and commercial solar. It supplies an enabling component class that NuPower also addresses via inverters (Victron), and competes for inclusion in residential PV system bill-of-materials across the global market.
- Canadian Solar: Canadian Solar is a global tier-1 PV module manufacturer with utility-scale, commercial, and residential exposure. It supplies the tier-1 PV panels that NuPower installs, and competes indirectly via its own downstream project development business in distributed generation markets.
- JinkoSolar: JinkoSolar is one of the world's largest PV module manufacturers with broad residential, commercial, and utility-scale exposure. It supplies tier-1 panels to the residential installer channel and competes with other module brands used in NuPower's bill of materials.
- SolarEdge: SolarEdge is a global manufacturer of DC-optimized inverters and power optimizers used in residential and commercial PV. Like Enphase, it is a component supplier and adjacent ecosystem player to NuPower's integration business, and competes with Victron inverters in the SA residential market.
Direct peers
- SolarAfrica: SolarAfrica is a South African residential and commercial solar PV installer offering grid-tie, hybrid, and off-grid systems with battery backup. It competes head-to-head with NuPower in the Gauteng residential and C&I segments and sells to similar homeowner and developer customers.
Emerging players
- Sun Exchange: Sun Exchange is a South African solar leasing and crowd-ownership platform that finances distributed PV projects for businesses and institutions. It intersects with NuPower's market by addressing the same SA commercial/industrial demand for distributed solar, though via an asset-financing model rather than direct EPC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NuPower Solar social profiles
Digital presenceNuPower Solar compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
NuPower Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NuPower Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
NuPower Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NuPower Solar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NuPower Solar
What does NuPower Solar do?
NuPower Solar designs, sells and installs solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems (off-grid, grid-tie and hybrid ESS configurations) and solar water heating systems (evacuated tube and flat plate) for residential, commercial and industrial customers in South Africa. Its offerings combine Victron inverters and BlueNova lithium batteries into configured kits (e.g., the 3kVA We Got The Power system from R100,000) and are backed by in-house installation teams, an annual service/maintenance contract and a 24-hour technical support helpline.
Is NuPower Solar a public or private company?
NuPower Solar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was NuPower Solar founded?
NuPower Solar was founded in 2008. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is NuPower Solar based?
NuPower Solar is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does NuPower Solar make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Solar System Sales are the primary driver. The others are installation Services and service/Maintenance Contracts.
Who are NuPower Solar's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SunPower, First Solar, Vivint Solar and Tesla Energy. Others are Enphase Energy, Canadian Solar, JinkoSolar and SolarEdge. SolarAfrica is listed as a direct peer. Sun Exchange is listed as an emerging player.
Does NuPower Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for NuPower Solar.
What industry is NuPower Solar in?
NuPower Solar's product category is Solar Installation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System), with a secondary code of EUAMABAG, Solar Balance-of-System Components (Cables, Combiner Boxes, Switchgear, Transformers). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 3600.