Inverter
45 kW Inverter Capacity
- Three Victron Quattro inverters, one per phase
- Sized to the factory's electrical demand
- Runs production machinery during grid failures
Project · commercial solar · Plettenberg Bay
Keeping a Plettenberg Bay Factory Running Through Grid Failures.
Three Victron Quattro inverters (45 kW combined), 60 kWh of lithium battery storage and a 30 kWp rooftop solar system keep one of the area's largest window and door manufacturers in production when the grid fails, and have cut its electricity bill by about half.
The Challenge.
One of the largest window and door manufacturers in the Plettenberg Bay area came to All Electrical Contractors with a serious problem.
At the time, South Africa was going through frequent load shedding, with power cuts lasting up to four hours at a time. For a busy manufacturing plant, every outage meant lost production time, lower productivity and significant financial losses.
The brief was simple: the factory had to keep running at full capacity, whatever happened to the municipal electricity supply.
Our Solution.
AEC designed and installed a commercial solar and battery backup system around the factory's energy demand, built into its existing electrical installation so the plant runs normally through grid failures.
Storage
60 kWh Lithium Batteries
- Two Freedom Won LiTE 30/24 lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries
- Reliable backup power when the grid fails
- Stores solar energy for use when it is needed
Generation
30 kWp Rooftop Solar
- Generates power throughout the day
- Supplies about half the factory's electricity
Integration
Built Into the Existing Installation
- Integrated with the factory's existing electrical infrastructure
- Intelligent energy management between solar, battery and grid
The Results.
The system does more than keep the lights on. It now supplies about half the factory's electricity, every day, not just during grid failures.
- About 50%
- of the factory's electricity now comes from solar
- About 50%
- lower electricity bill
- 4 to 8 hours
- of operation without grid power, depending on demand and sunlight
When the municipal supply fails, production carries on without interruption.
More Than Just Backup Power.
What began as an answer to load shedding has become a long-term investment in energy independence and lower operating costs. By combining solar generation, battery storage and intelligent energy management, AEC helped the business reach three goals:
- Business continuity: production continues during power outages.
- Significant savings: electricity costs are down by about 50%.
- Energy independence: the factory now generates a large share of its own electricity.
Commercial Solar Questions.
What this project shows about solar and battery backup for businesses.
Can a Solar and Battery System Keep a Factory Running During Grid Failures?
Yes. A commercial hybrid system with enough inverter capacity and battery storage switches the factory to battery and solar power when the grid fails. In this Plettenberg Bay installation, three Victron Quattro inverters (45 kW combined) with 60 kWh of lithium batteries keep production running during grid failures.
How Long Can a Commercial Battery System Run Without Grid Power?
It depends on the site's electrical demand, the battery capacity and the available sunlight. This factory's 60 kWh battery and 30 kWp solar system keep operations running for about 4 to 8 hours without grid power.
How Much Can Commercial Solar Reduce a Business's Electricity Bill?
It depends on the system size and how much of the business's demand falls in daylight hours. This Plettenberg Bay factory now generates about 50% of its electricity from solar, which has cut its electricity bill by about 50%.
Keep Your Business Running.
Tell AEC about your site. Have your last three months of electricity bills handy, and AEC will size a system around your demand.
Business Hours
Monday–Friday8am–5pm
Saturday–SundayBy appointment
Tell AEC About Your Business
Your enquiry is emailed straight to AEC. Attach your electricity bills or photos of your site below if it helps. Prefer to talk? Call 060 367 3774.