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Containerised Solar Systems for Africa

Africa needs power and it needs it quickly. 600 million Africans- half the population of the continent – including north Africa which has more reliable grid systems – either has no power or unreliable power which can damage valuable equipment and leave the population in darkness.

If you look at night from the international space station most of sub-Saharan Africa is in darkness. Compare that with Europe, China, India and North America and see how bright those countries and continents shine at night. Antarctica is dark and so is Siberia and the Amazon rainforest and much of Australia but few or no people live in those places. Much of the light is from gas flares in the Gulf of Guinea and the only ‘bright’ areas are in South Africa and on the North Africa littoral. This is 600 million in darkness.

Africa is the worlds fastest growing continent, dynamic people and epic scenery but its growth and prosperity is slowed down and bought to a halt by a lack of power.

Africa has some large hydro electric power schemes built in the 1950’s and 1960’s including the Kariba Dam, Owens Falls, Cabora Bassa and Akosombo. More recent large power installations have been less successful because of climate change and lower lake levels owing lower rainfall. Even existing installations such as Akosombo in Ghana and Kariba in Zambia are producing less power and have been supplemented with thermal power stations operating on expensive imported crude oil draining foreign exchange reserves and diverting government funds that should be used in education and health. In January the Victoria Falls in Zambia actually stopped so Africa cannot rely on hydro power and even when they try, projects can take many years and never achieve the expected results.

If you are in a village or on a small island large power grids are the wrong answer. The only solution is offgrid power and in Africa that means solar power. Every minute 1,380 watts hits every square metre of the Earth. Much of it is reflected off clouds and oceans but in Africa it’s a rich resource of power. Solar installations can be located in a desert, on an island, on a mountain, next to a volcano, on a savanna plan, near a river or the coast and even in a rain forest environment. They can be small or large; for special needs or the benefit of a whole community and the power is free.. When are they needed ?  How can we build solar installations ? You need a lot of equipment so where do you buy ? is it difficult to put together ?

The Great Anticipation Machine 

Energy from the sun is going to be there for billions more years, way beyond our future needs. All other supply sources are unstable(Hydro), cause climate change and wreck the planet (fossil fuels) or just dangerous (Nuclear – where do you put the waste ?) not readily available in most of Africa (Wind)…and expensive.

Offgridinstaller have the answer with a containerized solar system from 3 kw up wards. Systems are fitted in new fully fitted containers either 20 or 40 foot depending on the size required.

All the necessary equipment is fitted out in the container in the UK except the solar panels that are transported in the container and fitted by our UK led installation team on site. The panels can be ground mounted or on a building. This is all agreed with the client before the container is built and shipped.

In each container is a battery bank of lithium batteries providing power at night.  During the day all the electrical power emanates from the sun and the sun also tops up the batteries. The 12v DC power is converted into 220V AC with an inverter fitted in the container.

Everything can be done in 4 months including shipping to Africa although southern African may take a little longer.

The containers can be fitted into any environment including next to factories, warehouses, hospitals, universities, boarding schools, sports centres, shopping centres or holiday centres.

Its totally clean energy and self sufficient so ideal for remote hotels, tourist centres either on the beach or in a game resort. No more concerns about an unreliable grid.

Conatinerised solar can be used at mines to either supplement existing power needs or to act as stand alone. Can help a factory carry on producing even when the grid is down.

Containerised solar can pump water from a well into a tank or irrigation pond. It can charge an electric vehicle – anywhere in Africa. Electric vehicles will need a cheap local source of power.

Solar power can light up the world with streetlights, lights in a shopping centre or shop, hotel or sports centre. 

Containerised solar will play a major role in education and health services in small towns and rural areas. Container units can supply power for boarding schools both in towns and the rural areas. Boarding schools need power for accommodation, lighting and security as well as curriculum lessons during the day and clubs in the evening and weekends. With guaranteed power school facilities can be rented out at evenings, weekends and in school holidays. During holiday period schools can be used as conference centres.

At universities containerised solar can power an entire campus including faculties and student and staff housing. Constant, reliable power will have a major impact on higher education.

Medical clinics private and public are spread throughout Africa and need guaranteed, cheap power 24/7 for running complex and expensive equipment. Unreliable and poor quality grid power can damage expensive equipment and of course lead to serious injury and even death of patients.

At regional airports the provision of containerised solar units allow airports to safely operate evening and nighttime flights and so enhance revenue. In remote rural areas solar may be the only source of electrical power.

After installation at customers site the installation is connected to Offgridinstaller REMOTE MONITORING so that service can be ensured every day and every night of the year. Far cheaper for your power company to supply containerised solar units than build a grid system to remote villages where revenue is small but capital costs are high.

With the sun and an Offgridinstaller containerised solar power unit customers will never run short of electricity anywhere in Africa whatever the needs and wherever the location.

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