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CTS has supplied 21 weather stations for the Biota research project. These weather stations are designed according to world meteorological standard.

Each station consists of:

• Wind Speed and Direction Sensor
• Irradiance Sensor
• Humidity/Ambient Temperature Sensor
• Barometric Pressure Sensor
• Ground Temperature Sensor
• Leaf Wetness Sensor
• Rain Bucket

The weather stations are equipment with the CR1000 logger from Campbell Scientific. Special software has been developed to allow automatic transmission of the weather data to a server based in Germany via GPRS using the local GSM network. Software updates can be done remotely minimizing travel.

Weather data can be viewed at: www.sasscalweathernet.org 

CTS was awarded the first ever containerized off-grid solar electrification tender for the Ministry of Mines and Energy beginning of 2013. This project entailed:

• Upgrading of all government building wiring as per national standard for 9 sites in the Omusati region
• Manufacture, supply and install container power units for these sites.

The power containers consisted of ca 2.8kW of PV modules installed on the roof as well as 3,000 to 4,500 Ah of battery capacity depending on site requirements. Five KVA inverter charger and two 70A Blue Solar Charge regulator all from Victron Energy complete the system.

With a total of nine containers, school, hostels and other government buildings were electrified. Each container was subdivided into two rooms for batteries and inverter technology respectively.

With our 36T/m crane truck CTS was able to transport the container to site, navigating through thick sand with ease.

After close to 20 years of operation, the existing electrically heated hot water boilers were replaced. A modern, energy efficient system supplied by Stiebel Eltron was installed. The system comprises of the following:

2x heat pumps
5x 1000L hot water tanks (with electrical backup)
1x Control panel with remote monitoring and SMS alarm functionality.
2x booster pumps to feed the hotel with water during times when municipal supply is shut off

The installation has been achieved in a 3 week period. All works have been carried out with minimal interruptions to the hot water supply to the hotel. Remote monitoring of the plant in included to assist the client with possible troubleshooting, thus avoiding unnecessary trips to Lüderitz. SMS communication allows the quick reaction times of hotel maintenance personnel to act in cases of municipal water loss.

The installed photovoltaic system at Elavi Clinic caters for the power supply to the clinic as well as the nurse houses. A 6.2kW PV module array generates enough power for the energy requirements. Should this not be sufficient the batteries can be charged by a backup generator.

The system consists of the following:

• 6.24 kW PV array
• 2x Victron BueSolar 150V/70A MPPT regulator
• 600Ah Battery capacity
• Inverter/Charger, Victron Multi, 48V/8000VA
• System Monitoring (BMV700, Color Control GX)

This is a typical photovoltaic (PV) medium scale farm system found on many farms around Namibia. Over the past three years this system grew in PV size from 350Wpeak to ~1200Wpeak.

System specs are:

• PV modules with a total capacity of 1220Wpeak
• 1200VA, 24V Inverter charger
• 40A Solar Charge Regulator
• 360Ah battery bank@24V
• Battery Monitor showing: state of charge (%), charging/discharging current (A), Battery Voltage (V) and time to go (h)
• Switchgear for submersible pump control

The PV modules are mounted on frames facing true north for optimal energy harvesting. During times of limited sunshine, especially the rainy season, battery charging can be increased by starting the generator. Should the AC load increase behind the inverter rating, the generator can support the system to cater for the increased load. No automatic generator start function is included.

Furthermore a second PV system for the Farm workers has been installed to cater for lighting and a TV.

• 2x 90Wpeak PV modules
• 20A Solar Charge Regulator
• 2x 105Ah batteries
• 350VA, 12V inverter

An off gird PV system with generator back up was installed at the Gcwatjinga clinic south east of Rundu. The system comprises of the following components:

• 6.24 kW PV array
• 2x Victron BueSolar 150V/70A MPPT regulator
• 600Ah Battery capacity
• Inverter/Charger, Victron Multi, 48V/8000VA
• System Monitoring (BMV700, Color Control GX)

The clinic was connected to the grid, which at time of system design and installation the grid connection plans were unknown to the engineer. As the clinic has PV installed, the existing system has been configured such as to allow for grid connection once the batteries reach a predefined SOC. This guarantees a continuous supply of power to the clinic and nurse houses.

In addition to the grid, a backup generator is incorporated in case PV as well as grid failure occur.