ENERGY MANAGEMENT FOR A SAFARI LODGE
Project location
Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa
Year of implementation
2021
Application
Power quality
Hardware
UMG 512-PRO, UMG 509-PRO UMG 96RM-EL
Software
GridVis® Essential
Service
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REQUIREMENT
The Cheetah Plains Lodge in South Africa offers its discerning guests a stay far away from civilization. This includes unique safaris with electric-powered Land Cruisers. Guests and management also place great value on minimal noise pollution, low environmental impact, and sustainability. The previous energy supply was no longer able to meet these requirements. It consisted almost exclusively of diesel generators. Their performance, environmental impact, fuel costs, and power quality no longer met the requirements of a modern facility. The previous stand-alone system was supplemented by a single-phase connection from the local energy supplier, but its capacity was limited and it exhibited considerable voltage variations.
SOLUTION
The operators commissioned South African solar expert Blockpower and German microgrid integrator DHYBRID Power Systems GmbH. Both companies were tasked with installing a three-phase energy system with a PV system and an island-forming energy storage system based on lithium-ion batteries. DHYBRID used Janitza energy measurement technology for the necessary monitoring and optimization of the grid supply quality. DHYBRID relied on UMG 509-PRO and UMG 512-PRO pwoer quality analyzers in the lodge. The team supplemented the energy supply with active filters from Janitza to eliminate any disturbances. A 150 kVA diesel generator continues to serve as an emergency power supply. In addition, the single-phase line from the regional energy supplier can be connected.
ADVANTAGES
The lodge's new PV system has a capacity of 300 kWp. It feeds the lithium-ion memory with a capacity of 1,027 kWh, which in turn supplies the grid-forming, bidirectional battery inverter. With a peak output of 250 kW at a stable voltage output and frequency, it offers sufficient reserves for a three-phase power supply. Even larger consumers such as cooling systems, motors, and the charging stations for the Land Cruisers can be operated reliably. With the new complete solution, the safari lodge covers almost 100 percent of its energy demand from the PV system. Grid independence does not come at the expense of nature or comfort – something that guests and operators of the lodge appreciate. They can be sure that the power supply for their first-class stay comes primarily from one source: the energy of the sun.
