Solar-Storage Integrated Power Project in Zimbabwe
Feb.22.2025 Views: loading...
Project Background:
BOUNERGY New Energy Company successfully partnered with a commercial agriculture company in Zimbabwe to design and implement a solar-storage integrated power system. The project was aimed at addressing the challenges of unreliable grid power and high operational costs in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. Frequent blackouts and unstable electricity supply were impacting production efficiency, leading the client to seek a more reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy solution.
Project Location:
The project was implemented at a large commercial farm located near Harare, Zimbabwe. The farm operates various irrigation systems, processing facilities, and cold storage, all of which require continuous, reliable power to prevent crop loss and ensure smooth operations.
Solution:
BOUNERGY designed a fully integrated solar and energy storage system to provide the farm with continuous power supply, minimizing reliance on the unreliable national grid.
Solar Power System:
A 700 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system was installed on the farm, covering the rooftops of the processing facilities and available land areas. The solar panels were strategically placed to optimize sunlight capture, especially during peak production periods.
The system generates enough electricity during the day to meet the farm’s power requirements, reducing the need for grid electricity and lowering energy costs.
Energy Storage System:
A 500 kWh battery energy storage system was integrated to store excess solar power generated during the day. This stored energy is used during the night and during grid outages, ensuring that critical operations such as irrigation, processing, and refrigeration continue without interruption.
The energy management system intelligently switches between solar, battery, and grid power based on demand and availability, ensuring that the most cost-effective and reliable power source is utilized at any given time.
Hybrid Setup
The system is designed to be grid-tied, with the option to operate in island mode during power outages. This allows the farm to stay operational even when the grid fails, further enhancing energy security and reducing downtime.
Project Results:
1.Increased Operational Reliability: The integration of solar and battery storage ensured a continuous power supply, reducing production downtime caused by power outages. The farm was able to operate at full capacity even during grid failures, avoiding losses associated with crop spoilage and delayed processing.
2.Cost Savings: The farm experienced a 50% reduction in electricity costs, as the system significantly reduced reliance on expensive and unstable grid power. The stored solar energy also helped the farm avoid the high costs associated with diesel backup generators.
3.Sustainability Impact: By using renewable solar energy, the project reduced the farm’s carbon footprint by approximately 1,200 tons of CO2 per year, supporting the farm's sustainability goals and contributing to Zimbabwe’s push for renewable energy adoption.
4.Scalability: This successful project provided a blueprint for similar solar-storage solutions in the agricultural sector across Zimbabwe, positioning BOUNERGY as a leading provider of renewable energy systems in the region.
BOUNERGY’s solar-storage integrated solution enabled the farm to achieve energy independence, operational reliability, and significant cost savings, all while contributing to a more sustainable agricultural industry in Zimbabwe.
BOUNERGY New Energy Company successfully partnered with a commercial agriculture company in Zimbabwe to design and implement a solar-storage integrated power system. The project was aimed at addressing the challenges of unreliable grid power and high operational costs in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. Frequent blackouts and unstable electricity supply were impacting production efficiency, leading the client to seek a more reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy solution.
Project Location:
The project was implemented at a large commercial farm located near Harare, Zimbabwe. The farm operates various irrigation systems, processing facilities, and cold storage, all of which require continuous, reliable power to prevent crop loss and ensure smooth operations.
Solution:
BOUNERGY designed a fully integrated solar and energy storage system to provide the farm with continuous power supply, minimizing reliance on the unreliable national grid.
Solar Power System:
A 700 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system was installed on the farm, covering the rooftops of the processing facilities and available land areas. The solar panels were strategically placed to optimize sunlight capture, especially during peak production periods.
The system generates enough electricity during the day to meet the farm’s power requirements, reducing the need for grid electricity and lowering energy costs.
Energy Storage System:
A 500 kWh battery energy storage system was integrated to store excess solar power generated during the day. This stored energy is used during the night and during grid outages, ensuring that critical operations such as irrigation, processing, and refrigeration continue without interruption.
The energy management system intelligently switches between solar, battery, and grid power based on demand and availability, ensuring that the most cost-effective and reliable power source is utilized at any given time.
Hybrid Setup
The system is designed to be grid-tied, with the option to operate in island mode during power outages. This allows the farm to stay operational even when the grid fails, further enhancing energy security and reducing downtime.
Project Results:
1.Increased Operational Reliability: The integration of solar and battery storage ensured a continuous power supply, reducing production downtime caused by power outages. The farm was able to operate at full capacity even during grid failures, avoiding losses associated with crop spoilage and delayed processing.
2.Cost Savings: The farm experienced a 50% reduction in electricity costs, as the system significantly reduced reliance on expensive and unstable grid power. The stored solar energy also helped the farm avoid the high costs associated with diesel backup generators.
3.Sustainability Impact: By using renewable solar energy, the project reduced the farm’s carbon footprint by approximately 1,200 tons of CO2 per year, supporting the farm's sustainability goals and contributing to Zimbabwe’s push for renewable energy adoption.
4.Scalability: This successful project provided a blueprint for similar solar-storage solutions in the agricultural sector across Zimbabwe, positioning BOUNERGY as a leading provider of renewable energy systems in the region.
BOUNERGY’s solar-storage integrated solution enabled the farm to achieve energy independence, operational reliability, and significant cost savings, all while contributing to a more sustainable agricultural industry in Zimbabwe.
