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..

Outback FlexPOWER 2 Installation - Piet Retief

Off-Grid PV, SHW & Gas System, Design & Supply by AM Solar:

• Inverter/Charger - Outback FlexPOWER 2 (2 x 3KW)
• Charge Controller - Outback FM80
• PV Panels - 8x SetSolar 200W
• Batteries - M-Solar 350AH (48V)
• Solar Hot Water - 200L Thermo-siphon System
• Backup - Generator and Gas Manifold

[Picture: The Outback FP2 installation]

Huge Energy & Costs Savings - LIFE Healthcare

AM Solar installed a number of Heat Pumps in one of LIFE Healthcare's Hospital's as a pilot project, which resulted in huge energy and cost savings for the hospital.
Their electricity bill was reduced by nearly 40% resulting in close to R60 000 savings per month.
Note: These cost savings will increase in the colder months of the year.