Home | Central Technical Supplies

Three localities in the Otjozondjupa region where successfully electrified by means of Off-Grid PV containers. The system sizes varied from 6kW, 12kW to 25kW of PV power. PV modules where installed on roofs of nearby houses, batteries, inverter/charger and switchgear are located in our proven design of prefabricated containers to keep the components cool, even in the hottest of climates.

The system is an AC coupled PV system with SMA Sunny Island (SI 8.0) inverter and SunnyBoys of various sizes. Communication between all components is based on a wireless RS485 solution from Phoenix Contact with a distance covered of 1.5km.

Sites that were electrified in the Otjozondjupa region are:

• Rooidag Hek 
• M’Kata
• Kukurushe

CTS removed old and obsolete laundry equipment and installed new machines.

The installed equipment consisted of:

1. 2 x new Primus FS40 high speed washer extractors
2. 2 x Maytag energy saving tumble dryers
3. 1 x Miele through-feed drying ironers
4. inculding laundry trolleys, ironing trolleys and other small accessories
   
   

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 

Central Technical Supplies was once again awarded the tender to electrify 4 remote localities in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. Custom build containers where installed on site with SMA Sunny Island 8.0 inverter installed. In addition the offered lead acid battery technology has been replaced by state of the art lithium batteries reducing system maintenance. The use of AC coupled technology did allow for the SunnyBoy solar inverter to be in installed inside relevant buildings on which PV modules are mounted. All components are interlinked by means of wireless technology to allow for remote monitoring where GSM signal is of sufficient strength. System sizes vary form 3kW, 12kW, 15kW to 20kW of PV power while inverters are as much as 3 in a single phase cluster.

Sites that were electrified are:

• Nhoma
• Aasvoel Nes
• Kanovlei
• Grashoek

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

A new 7,1kWp Solar Home System for Net Metering was installed at a private residence in Windhoek.

System Specifications are:

• Grid connected with Net Metering
• 24 x 295W Canadian Solar PV modules. Total 7,1kWp.
• 1 x Fronius Primo 8,2-1
• Roof mounted with IBR sheeting
• Remote Monitoring and Energy Meter.