Astron Carnival City
Empowering Astron with Grid-Independent Solutions
We’re proud to support Astron in overcoming South Africa’s energy challenges. Our specialized solar and backup power systems provide reliable energy during loadshedding and load reduction, ensuring that Astron stations can operate without interruption. This robust solution also helps to mitigate the impact of cable theft and reduces their reliance on the national grid, providing a secure and consistent power supply for their operations and customers.
Client
Astron Carnival City
Sector
Petroleum
System
Hybrid Solar
Solar Capacity
94.4kWp
Inverter Capacity
75kW
Battery Capacity
162kWh
Solar Modules
156 x 605W Longi Panels
Est. Payback Period
30 Months
Challenges Faced
- High Electricity Tariff: The property was subject to high electricity costs, significantly impacting operational expenses.
- Long Duration Power Outages: The property experienced frequent and prolonged power outages, which disrupted business operations.
Solutions Implemented
- Hybrid Solar System: Royal Power installed a hybrid solar PV system to generate electricity during daylight hours, significantly reducing reliance on the grid. The system is designed to seamlessly switch between solar, battery, and generator power as needed.
- Battery Storage: The system, installed by Royal Power, includes 18 x 9kWh Sigenergy batteries, providing a total usable energy storage capacity of 162kWh. This allows the property to store excess solar energy generated during the day to power the property at night.
- The 120kW 3-phase Sigenergy Gateway was used to AC couple all components of the system, ensuring efficient and reliable integration of the solar panels, inverters, batteries, and generator.
- Outdoor Installation & Security: The Sigenergy equipment, including inverters and batteries, is IP66 rated, allowing for outdoor installation with protection against dust and water.
- Health & Safety Protocols: All works were executed in compliance with SANS 10142-1 Electrical Installation Regulations, SAPVIA PV Green Card installation best practices, and full adherence to working at height and occupational health and safety protocols.
Integration and Control
- Seamless Integration: The hybrid inverters and battery system, installed by Royal Power, were integrated to work in harmony with the solar panels and diesel generator, providing a reliable and continuous power supply. The total inverter capacity of the system is 75kW.
- Monitoring and Control System: The system’s monitoring and control are managed through the mysiGEN app from Sigenergy, the first system on the market to integrate AI into energy management for SSEG (Small-Scale Embedded Generation) plants. This advanced app ensures optimal performance, enabling real-time monitoring and intelligent decision-making to maximize efficiency and savings.
Results
- Energy Savings: The system now provides the filling station with 50% of its electricity needs, reducing the energy bill and diesel consumption at the site.
Uninterrupted Operations: The combination of solar power, battery storage, and generator backup ensures that the filling station can operate continuously, even during extended power outages. - Uninterrupted Operations: The combination of solar power, battery storage, and generator backup ensures that the filling station can operate continuously, even during extended power outages.
- Financial Savings: he reduction in grid electricity usage and optimized generator operation result in substantial savings on operational costs.
- Payback Period: The investment, facilitated by Royal Power, is projected to have a payback period of around 30 months, making it a financially viable and sustainable solution.