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 specialist Blockpower and German microgrid integrator Dhybrid Power Systems GmbH to install a three-phase power system comprising a PV system and an off-grid lithium-ion battery storage system.
To monitor and optimise power quality, Dhybrid integrated Janitza’s energy measurement technology into the system. UMG 509 and UMG 512 power quality analysers were installed at the lodge, along with Janitza active filters to minimise disturbances and ensure a reliable power supply.
A 150 kVA diesel generator remains available as an emergency backup. In addition, the system can be connected to the single-phase supply provided by the regional utility.
BENEFIT
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.
