Power supplier provides solar power for rural areas in South Africa

22nd January 2016

By: Malusi Mkhize

journalist

  

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Renewable-energy products supplier Sinetech continues to supply its new line of Compact Solar Systems, which provides electrification for off-grid locations, including schools and hospitals in rural areas.

Officially launched in September last year, the Compact Solar Systems are completely self-contained power stations that have powder-coated steel cabinets which house an inverter or charger and a solar charge controller of the end-user’s choice, says Sinetech junior systems engineer Robbert Ruthven.

“The systems further consist of optional remote controls, allowing them to be monitored and adjusted through the Internet. The units are available in the Elektron model, which has four fully sealed deep-cycle rechargeable AGM + Gel VRLA hybrid solar batteries, or the Magnox model, which has eight of the identical batteries as the Elektron,” he adds.

Ruthven tells Engineering News that the four 120-amp hour (Ah) batteries in the Elektron model come in a 48 V configuration and offer a backup time of about 60 min at a full load of 2 400 W and 120 min at a half load of 1 500 W.

Meanwhile, the Magnox model’s eight batteries are installed in the same 48 V configuration but offer a backup time of about 120 min at a full load of 2 400 W and 240 min at a half load of 1 500 W.

According to Ruthven, the batteries have an eight- to ten-year design life span when used purely for backup applications and up to 4 200 cycles at 20% depth of discharge.

The units can be supplied with six 260 W panels or twelve 250 W panels, as well as nine copper/indium/selenide (CIS) 170 W solar panels or eighteen CIS 170 W solar panels. The steel cabinets have a feature that allows them to be bolted against a wall and include provision for three padlocks for added security.

Ruthven adds that the Compact Solar Systems were originally designed to be used as either a primary or a backup source of power for schools and hospitals in rural areas; however, as the cabinets are sturdily built and lockable, they have also proven to be popular for home and business applications.

“These systems can function completely off-grid, meaning that they can be the primary source of power. They are equipped with input connectors that can be connected to external sources of power, such as generators or mains (municipal power),” he explains.

He adds that solar energy is used to recharge the batteries during the day, with the battery power and excess solar power converted to 230 V alternating current in order to power the loads. If there is insufficient sunlight, an external power source can be used to recharge the batteries and power the loads.

The vented structures of the Compact Solar Systems are verminproof and the cabinet is raised off the ground to prevent water ingress.

Edited by Zandile Mavuso
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

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