Many people are simply looking for a backup system that will provide them with power when Eskom is down.

Traditionally a small petrol generator has been the solution of choice but it has several disadvantages: It is noisy, it is inconvenient and it is costly to run. Switch over does not happen automatically. When the power goes out, the generator needs to be started first, then the changeover switch needs to be operated.

In contrast,a battery backup UPS system does not need any human intervention when a power cut occurs. The system will automatically start to operate within a split second.

The system consists of only 2 components: a UPS inverter and a battery bank. The Inverter is connected in the line between Eskom and the electrical appliances. When Eskom is on, the inverter automatically acts as a battery charger and a transfer switch – the appliances run from Eskom power, whilst the battery charger keeps the battery topped up.

When the power goes down, the UPS inverter immediately and automatically utilizes battery power to keep the appliance running. The switchover happens very fast, within milliseconds. When Eskom comes back on, the appliances will run from Eskom power again, whilst the battery charger will recharge the battery. All of this happens automatically and no manual switching is necessary.

UPS systems can be used to back up just a few loads (for instance TV, decoder and a light or two) or they can be engineered to back up the complete household or office. The cost of these systems will depend on the loads and the backup time required. Small plug and play systems to power a TV, decoder, some lights and even a laptop computer can be purchased for only a few thousand Rand.

A modular 1 kW UPS system that can power a small office with lights, computers, printers and switchboard for 3 hours might cost less than R 10 000 fully installed (final cost will depend on component functionality and specific reticulation layout). Backup time could easily be expanded through the addition of more batteries.

Long backup UPS systems could be expanded to become grid interactive solar PV systems. This will require the correct choice of initial components. ALLSOLAR specializes in designing a system that will suit your specific needs and that will perform as expected.

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When no Eskom or municipal power is available, a standalone solar system is the answer.

This type of system is COMPLETELY independent of the power grid and there is no interaction whatsoever with Eskom. Typical applications are on farms or remote locations, although it could be installed practically anywhere.

The daily electrical energy requirement of the property will determine the required number of solar panels and other system components.

The amount of reserve energy required for periods of little or no sun and the climatology of the specific location will also play a role when we design such a system. A wind turbine could even be added as an additional source of energy (with the provision that it is feasible) and a generator could be employed as a final back-up source of power.

Main benefits of standalone off grid solar systems:

●  Dependable and reliable.

●  Complete Energy Security.

●  Cost of energy yield fixed for at least 25 years.

●  Expandable and modular – can be enlarged at any time.

●  Renewable resource with minimal impact on the environment.

●  No more costly line availability fee (if you had Eskom before).

●  Total independence – all electricity provided by sunlight.

●  No grid power required, avoiding expensive infrastructure.

Main disadvantages of standalone off grid solar systems:

●  Higher initial cost due to larger battery banks.

●  Understanding and management of the system and energy usage is required.

●  Energy usage limited to what the designed system can yield on a daily basis (could be supplemented by a generator).

●  Battery banks need replacement eventually. Depending on design and type of batteries used, a lifespan of anything from 2 – 15 years is possible.

●  Very small 12 Volt systems can cost as little as R 2000 whilst large 3 phase systems can be R 500 000 or more. The cost of a system for your specific needs will depend entirely on the amount of electricity that is required on a daily basis.

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Grid tied systems consist of only 2 key components – solar panels and a dedicated grid tied inverter.

All the electric power generated by the solar panels feeds through a mains synchronized inverter directly into your distribution board and offsets the power you would normally consume from Eskom.

It will of course only do this when the sun shines! If the panels produce more power than what is being consumed at the time, the balance will flow back into the network and it will actually reverse the electricity meter (not all types of meters can do this though).

Since no batteries are used, no independent energy can be stored for later use. This means that energy required at night will still be obtained from the network.

Using actual figures will explain this better: Let’s assume the typical daily consumption of a building is 30 kWh, over a 24 hour period. If the solar array can produce the 30 kWh during sun hours, a substantial amount of this energy will be flowing back into network and the meter will be turning backwards during this period, building up “credits”. At night, energy will be obtained from the network and the meter will turn forward again, using the “credits”.

If we get the balance right, the meter will show zero usage at the end of the 24 hour period! If our consumption were to increase to 40 units per 24 hour day, we would still get 30 units for free from the solar system and we will only buy the remaining 10 units from the network. If we only consume 20 kWh, we would have “exported” 10 kWh. Since we have now become a power producer, this electricity could theoretically be sold to the network.

The functionality of grid tied systems is such that they will only operate in the presence of an active grid network. If a power failure occurs, they will immediately shut down. This is a legally required safety feature to ensure that the electrocution of workers possibly working on the network cables cannot take place. Since no backup energy is stored in a battery bank, no electricity will be available whilst the power is off.

Worldwide, in countries like Germany, USA and Australia, this type of system is in extensive use. The fact that no batteries are employed lowers the price substantially and there is virtually zero maintenance. For suburban areas where there are few power failures, this could be the ideal solution. Grid tied systems are easily expanded.

Legal requirements

Currently there is a lot of controversy and miscommunication regarding the legality of these systems in SA. Some municipalities have approved a net metering scenario but will not pay you for excess electricity produced. Others maintain it is illegal to feed energy back into the network. Not all electricity meters can be used with Grid tied systems. Prepaid meters can’t be reversed and grid tied solutions are not always feasible.

Main benefits of Grid Tied Solar PV Systems:

●  HouseEnergy provided by the Sun – saving money.

●  No expensive batteries required.

●  Sunlight is directly converted into electricity to use.

●  At current electricity costs, system payback is between 4 to 6 years.

●  Cost of energy yield fixed for at least 25 years.

●  The only home improvement that will save you money on a daily basis!

●  No maintenance required.

Main disadvantages of Grid Tied Solar PV Systems:

●  With no batteries, there is no independent energy storage.

●  During load shedding or a power outage, no energy is available.

●  Current legal issues in South Africa can limit the full benefits in certain applications.

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This system is very similar to an off grid standalone system but has the ability to interact with the public power grid network.

Eskom power could be used as a backup source of power when required. Such a system will automatically switch to Eskom power when no Sun has been available for a period of time or when electricity demand exceeds the ability of the system.

Depending on the size of this system and the appliances or devices requiring power, it can support an entire building or just specific chosen loads.

The modular ability of solar systems means that a system could be designed to support only critical loads initially, whilst having the ability to expand capacity later through the addition of more components.

Grid-Interactive systems are a popular solution and a number of ALLSOLAR branches use it for business and personal use.

In areas with frequent power failures (as in South Africa), such a fully automatic, silent solar powered system is almost becoming a must! With proper initial design, future expansion that makes the user totally independent of their power producer, can take place as finances allow. A ballpark indication of cost for a fully installed turnkey system with top quality components is around R 15 000 per kWh (units) daily energy required. Final cost will depend on specific component choices, additional functionalities required and site specifics.

Main benefits of Grid interactive PV solar systems:

●  Avoidance of outages and load shedding.

●  Electricity provided by Sunlight.

●  Independence from Eskom, partly or completely.

●  Dependable and reliable.

●  Cost of energy yield fixed for at least 25 years.

●  Expandable and modular – system size can be increased at any time.

●  Renewable resource with minimal impact on the environment.

●  Automatic grid assistance when additional energy is required.

Main disadvantages of Grid interactive PV solar systems:

●  Higher initial cost due to battery banks required (although typically smaller battery banks than for a standalone system could be utilized).

●  Battery banks need replacement eventually. Depending on design and type of batteries used, a lifespan of 2 – 15 years is possible.

●  It is critical that the design of such a system be done by a professional. This will not only ensure that the system performs as expected and operates flawlessly but also that future expansion could take place without needing to replace key components, and that the modular ability will be technically feasible.

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Various different combinations of renewable and other energy sources can be implemented to suit specific requirements.

The automatic interaction of these different components can be configured to suit a number of predetermined requirements.

Grid tied Systems with limiter

In many cases, especially in South Africa, feedback into the grid is not allowed. A grid tied limiter will prevent feedback. Since no power can flow back into the network, it would be best to design the system in such a way that most of the generated power can be used directly. Since the limiter prevents feedback, generated power that is not used will simply be lost. If we have a 5 kW solar array but we are only using 3 kW at the time, the extra 2 kW would feed back into the grid with a standard grid tied system. When the limiter is added to prevent feedback, it will tell the solar array to only produce the 3 kW that is required. The extra 2 kW is thus lost. If our power requirement increases to 8 kW, we will get 5 kW from the solar array and 3 kW automatically from the grid. It goes without saying that all this will only happens when the sun shines! To size and design these systems correctly and prevent over engineering, it is critical that the base daytime load be determined first. Such a load profile can be established through our energy audits. Limiter systems are perfect for business, commercial and industrial applications where the majority of electricity is consumed during sun hours.

Hybrid grid tied/grid interactive systems

Grid tied systems could be combined with grid interactive systems to create a hybrid system that will still make power available when the grid network is down. Essentially a UPS inverter and battery bank is added to the basic grid tied system. When Eskom is not available, energy will be supplied by the battery bank. Since the battery bank only needs to be big enough to provide electricity for relatively short periods, a much smaller battery bank can be used which would save upfront costs.

Systems using more than one source of renewable energy

Standalone systems, grid interactive systems and even grid tied systems could be designed to utilize more than one source of renewable energy. Solar panels could be combined with a wind turbine or even a hydro turbine if the resource is available.

Specialized hybrid systems

The various systems mentioned could also be combined in many different configurations, depending on available energy resources, load profiles and specific functionality required. Even a standalone, grid tied system can be configured – yes, the description doesn’t make logical sense! We prefer to call it a grid tied system in island mode or a standalone AC coupled system.

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ALLSOLAR has developed an expandable approach to the design of renewable energy solutions.

People have different requirements and different budgets and a modular approach can drastically lessen the initial financial outlay and help to make your solution more affordable.

Solar energy technology can be very modular. All the components, such as inverters, batteries and solar panels, can be regarded as building blocks and when correctly approached, we can design systems that can easily be scaled up.

You could start with the basics and add components as you can afford to, or as your need increases. This means you don’t have to start with a big hole in your pocket!

A unique offering?

ALLSOLAR is possibly the only renewable energy specialist that focusses extensively on the design of expandable solutions. The experience and understanding our engineers have gathered over time through the implementation of our own and hundreds of other systems, have led to unparalleled insight into this methodology. A holistic approach is essential and the end vision should be kept in mind from the start. This will ensure that future expansion will be feasible and cost effective.

A popular design tactic is to divide electricity requirements or loads into “Essential” and “Non-essential” loads. Essential loads, which could include lights, fridges, TV, and computers, are powered by solar energy, whilst Non-essential loads remains powered by the Eskom grid. Non-essential loads could include underfloor heating, welding machines or any other heavy consumer which is not used on a daily basis. Loads could be divided in any way you choose and you can decide what needs to be powered by renewable energy and what can remain on the Eskom grid. Any custom configuration is possible!

ALLSOLAR will take the risk and complexity out of your move from a conventional to a renewable energy solution. A custom designed phased approach is guaranteed to be not only technically feasible and efficient, but also cost effective.

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The main function of an advanced battery monitor is to follow and indicate the state-of-charge of a battery.

In a way it acts like the fuel gauge in your car – at a glance you can see how much fuel is left.

The battery monitor will indicate state of charge as a percentage and estimate how long the battery can support the present load.

For the more technically minded, the monitor will also indicate other data such as voltage, current, power and Amp-hours. A history of events is stored which can be retrieved at any point to evaluate usage patterns and battery health. Additionally, the monitor can be programmed to activate alarms when specified conditions occur and a built-in programmable relay can even be used to switch loads or start a generator.

Intelligent Energy Management

Victron CCA smart energy management system monitors solar electricity production and energy use and gives real-time insight into the data. The same device can also switch non-essential loads like geysers, pool pumps and HVAC systems to maximise efficiency through user defined timers. Intelligent control will decide whether solar or conventional electricity should be used to run devices. It uses specialized technology to control circuits, thereby maximizing solar energy production. The user interface is accessible from any smart phone, tablet or computer. It shows solar energy production and total electricity use allowing customers to understand and manage usage better.

In-depth remote monitoring and control.

Monitoring systems are available that provides intuitive control and monitoring of all solar components connected to it. Besides onsite monitoring, information is also forwarded to a free remote monitoring website – the system is connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi dongle or Ethernet cable. An Online Portal allows access to solar system data from any computer or smart phone. Besides basic information like energy yield and battery state of charge, a full range of data can be accessed, graphs of all electrical values can be viewed for any period of time and in-depth analysis of electrical data and system performance is possible.

Remote configuration.

Remotely analysing the functioning of a solar system might lead to a decision that configuration settings need to be adjusted to optimize performance. A product like the Victron ColorControl GX, in combination with VE Power Setup software, allows the user to change the settings of system components from any remote location with internet access.

Remote configuration functionality gives complete peace of mind to many of our clients who own high performance systems. Highly skilled ALLSOLAR engineers monitor these systems from their offices (obviously with the client’s permission!) and they can “fine tune” the functionality of the system at any time, thus ensuring optimum performance. The fact that our engineers could keep an eye on the inner workings of your system will mean you have professionals with you every step of the way!

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The free power of the sun is an obvious choice for many water pumping requirements. This is especially true for remote locations.

No expensive electrical infrastructure is required and solar pump installations is virtually maintenance free.

Solar pumps are an energy efficient, environmentally friendly way to pump water for a variety of domestic and commercial purposes, including agricultural and residential irrigation and cattle or livestock watering.

Solar pumps are easy to install and they can have a lifespan of roughly 20 years. After the initial set up costs their servicing requirements are virtually nil.

A simple solar array and DC solar pump could save you thousands of Rand every year!

The main criteria for sizing pumps and the associated solar array is the total head and the volume of water required per day. Our engineers will also consider factors like the available solar radiation at your location, pipe diameter, cable sizes and the length of pipe runs.

With new VSD technology, it is now also easy and cost-effective to power an existing AC pump with a solar array, while still retaining the possibility of running it with grid power if needed.

Choosing and sizing the correct pump can be a challenge but ALLSOLAR has in-house specialists to design the optimum solution for your needs. Advanced software is used and we will provide you with a summary of performance figures. This will include design parameters, sizing results, daily and monthly production predictions and even pump curves if required.

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