Does a Solar Power (PV or Wind) make Financial Sense?

Is it worth the investment?
Consider the following....!!

We doubt there are many investment opportunities in the world that offer such attractive returns..... [read on]

So here it is, a Commercial Size project:
 

Project Capital:                R700 000.00  (this is a large commercial project)

Monthly Electricity Bill:       R 20 000.00    (Average) 

Annual Electricity Bill:        R240 000.00    (Average)

                                       (incl 15% electricity increase for 5 years)...

PAY BACK PERIOD:                           31.6  Months     or     2.6 Years            

Operational SAVINGS over 5 years:    R1 584 897.23    (R1.58 Million)

Note: This is an actual commercial scale project, designed and installed by AM Solar (2012).

Typical Residential Size project: 

Notes: This is an actual residential scale project, designed and installed by AM Solar (2012).
This time scale (15 years +) includes Battery replacement at 12 years.
Average electricity cost increase of around 6% per year.
 

Contact AM Solar for more information. info@amsolar.co.za
                                                      www.amsolar.co.za

Our First PV Installation in Waterfall Estate

Photovoltaic (PV) system being installed at Waterfall Estate in Kyalami, Johannesburg by AM Solar.

In a Grid-Tie configuration with a fail-over battery bank.

Equipment used:

• Victron Grid-Tie (Main) Inverter - 5kW  48V
• SMA Sunnyboy PV-Grid Inverter - 2.5kW
• Trinasolar 240W PV panels
• Northstar Solar Cells 170AH

Contact AM Solar - Professional Energy Solutions for more details

Contact AM Solar - Professional Energy Solutions for more details 

A Professional Solar Power (PV) Installation by AM Solar

AM Solar is an accredited and highly experienced renewable energy supplier and system integrator.
AM Solar specialise in Energy Efficiency, Energy Usage Reduction and Energy Co-Generation using various forms of Renewable Energy (incl. Solar Geysers, Heat Pumps, Photovoltaic/Wind Powered Systems, EE Lighting, Power Quality Correction & Energy Monitoring).

Here are a few pictures of an installation done by AM Solar in Kyalami, Gauteng, South Africa.

A large Photovoltaic (PV) array using 230W SolarWorld Solar Panels and using the SolarWorld mounting racks.  Installation & Design by AM Solar.

The Power Room:  incl. Hoppeke 2v Battery Cells, Victron 15kW Grid Inverters, SMA SunnyBoy PV String Inverters. Installation & Design by AM Solar.

Contact AM Solar for more information on this installation.

Challenging Roofs

As far as challenging roofs go... this one must take the cake!! 
AM Solar installation in Hennops River area, Johannesburg, South Africa.

This gives you an idea of the slope the 
building is built on, making the roof that more 
challenging.

Busy securing the 240W PV panel onto the frame and the roof.

Peter and Phistus (from AM Solar) moving one of the panels into position.

Welgevonden Game Reserve - Energy Audit

Looking at the Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg, a 5-Star multi-lodge estate with the Big-5.  The reserve needs to reduce their dependency on the grid from a visual and cost of use/maintenance perspective.
AM Solar conducted an initial Energy Audit with intention to implement the solution.

Mark Tiepelt (AM Solar) with one of the Lodge Managers.

Striking PV System at Waterfall Estate, Jhb

Solar Geyser Systems - Professionally Installed

ESKOM Rebated and approved Systems -  by AM Solar

An Evac Tube collector with Solar Geyser within the roof housing (i.e. Split System).  Hot water is circulated with a small DC (solar powered) pump. By AM Solar. Bryanston, Gauteng, SA.

Well insulated (lagged) piping to and from the Solar Geyser on a close-coupled, thermo-siphon system.  By AM Solar. Parkhurst, Gauteng, SA

PV & Wind Grid-Tie - Northcliff JHB

Another super project by AM Solar:

A Hybrid energy system for a client in Northcliff, Johannesburg combining Wind Power and Photovoltaic (PV) Power into a neat Grid-Tied system.

The PV array sits quiet far from the battery bank and grid-tie inverter (Main Inverter), so we have inverted the DC power close to the array and fed the main inverter with a secondary AC power IN, therefore significantly reducing any losses in the feed.  The PV inverter is an SMA Sunnboy inverter and the Main inverter (grid-tie) is a Victron inverter.

  

There is also battery bank connected to gives some backup power to the selected household load during a power failure/load shed.  

Oh and Yes... there is enough wind on the site to supplement the PV array. 

Main Grid-Tie Victron Inverter with Marlec Wind Turbine Controller, Change Over switch and Sub-DB Boards

The Marlec Wind Turbine

SolarWorld 80W PV array with the SMA SunnyBoy inverter visible under the eaves of the roof.

Contact AM Solar for more information on this project..

Integrated Energy Solutions - One Project - One Supplier

By AM Solar

Here we have a project recently completed by AM Solar for a client in the Johannesburg, Kyalami area.
The project consists of a number of related but separate renewable and solar energy solutions including:

• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power  -  Medium Scale Residential (15kw Peak)
• Solar Hot Water - incl. various High Pressure & Low Pressure systems.
• Heat Pumps - various size systems on the main house and cottages.
• BioGas System - connected to the main house & cottages.
• Energy Savings - replacement of std lights & fittings to LED & CFL.

The Solar Photovotaic (PV) Array.
Using SolarWorld 260W Panels in Series Strings to generate the power from the sun.
Also a 200L Solar Hot Water (High Pressure) system.  All by AM Solar.
Note: All Solar Hot Water system used on the project qualified for the ESKOM Rebates.

Solar Power System (15kw Peak):
The Grid-Tied Solar Power system makes use of the following components:

• 3x 5kw Victron Grid-Tied Inverters
• 2x SMA Sunnyboy Inverters (between PV arrays and Grid-Tie)
• 2V Hoppecke Cells (Batteries) for Backup Power.
• On-Line (Web) System Monitoring (Real Time) & Performance Analysis system.

Heat Pumps:
Multiple Heat Pumps were used, all qualified for ESKOM rebates

Biogas System:
In-Situ Cast, Puxin BioGas generator system, used for cooking in the home..

Another Solar Hot Water System used in this project.

The Installation and overall System Design, Project Management and Implementation was done by AM Solar and their partners.

Contact AM Solar for more information on this project or for technology enquiries..