OFF GRID POWER SOLUTIONS - R E S I D E N T I A L
P O W E R AT Y O U R C O N T R O L
WHO ARE ENERGY SOLUTIONS?
Energy Solutions are a specialist electrical
Contents:
system integrator based in the UK. Established
Living or working Off Grid
ES Off Grid system
Off Grid system control
innovative electrical and control systems.
Why have a generator
The company has nearly 50 staff with experience in
projects of all sizes. Already well established within the
UK we now supply our range worldwide.
Why is generator loading so important?
ES Off Grid system options and sizes
for 18 years, we design, manufacture and
supply electrical power equipment for marine,
mobile and off grid. For all markets we build
Fuel consumption test
8-9
Energy Solutions manufacture and/or supply:
Standard frame mount system
10
Rolls Batteries
Standard system with renewables
11
Sonnenschein Batteries
Battery selection
12
Northern Lights Generators
Generator options
13
E-Plex - Multiplexing systems
Saving even more with renewables
14
Victron Power Electronics
Super B Lithium Ion Batteries
ES LightNet 5 - Low voltage DC lighting system
ES Control Panels
ES ESP Panels
ES Laser Engraved Panels
ES TankSenders
CruzPro Instruments
2 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
Case studies
15 - 19
LIVING OR WORKING OFF GRID
Living or working off grid is a lifestyle choice for
The Off Grid systems from Energy Solutions are
some, but an economical necessity for many.
designed to optimise generator usage cutting
Even in advanced western economies the grid
fuel consumption and wear and tear. We can
does not reach everywhere and getting it
also integrate renewable energy into the system
extended to reach your dream property can be
to further drive down your fuel costs (and
a surprisingly expensive proposition.
actually earn you money from the Electricity
Company who cant supply you!)
So how can you live a grid connected lifestyle without
the grid? Many property owners have done this by
installing diesel generators to supply their needs.
These either run 24/7 or are turned off overnight. These
overnight periods can either be without power, or small
loads such as central heating boilers and fridges can be
run from a battery supplied inverter.
These systems work well, but there is a cost. Diesel
is getting more and more expensive. Long generator
running hours also mean frequent servicing and
replacement.
Any off grid system will require careful selection.
The power supplies are finite unlike the grid! When
considering the capacity of the system you will need to
be realistic about your power consumption including
peak power. Under sizing the system will result in power
outages and / or extended generator running time. The
up front costs of a larger system need to be balanced
against the ongoing fuel costs.
We achieve these savings by using state of the art
inverter charger units that regulate the loads applied to
the generator to keep it loaded but not overloaded.
Of course the first priority is to be as efficient as
possible in your use of energy. Modern A rated
appliances, low energy lighting and good insulation will
all reduce your demands. The figures and illustrations
within this document are all based on 15 KwH of energy
usage a day (the average UK domestic usage according
to Energy Trends 2007 is 4800 Kwh 13.15 Kwh per
day). Modern homes, built to code 4 of the sustainable
homes, can use less than half of this amount.
A good starting reference is the Energy Saving Trust:
Visit the Energy Saving Trust web site.
Why buy a system?
The integration of battery monitoring and intelligent control optimises battery life and generator efficiency.
High power DC systems are wired with very large cables that require specialist tools for connectors.
Systems come pre-wired with all of these connectors fitted.
The main elements of the system are mounted on a common frame to simplify installation on site.
Service bypass switch for the Multi inverter / charger is fitted as standard.
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 3
ES OFF GRID SYSTEM
E-Plex control and optional remote control and monitoring with iPad interface
Energy Solutions are specialists in electrical
power systems where there is either no grid
or an intermittent grid supply.
We have a proven track record in providing products
and support to blue chip customers across a wide
range of industries. Since its inception 18 years ago
Energy Solutions has developed and installed a range
of innovative power management products used
in the Industrial, Marine, Solar PV and EV market
sectors and has supported products across the globe
for many leading OEMs.
Based in Kent, we have a range of Off Grid power
solutions that are currently being supplied to
industrial and residential sites, providing electricity to
areas that otherwise would have no economic access
to power.
Our solutions can incorporate the very latest Lithium
ION battery technology and our proprietary power
management system E-Plex. These systems when
coupled with renewable energy sources provide
an off grid power source that has unrivalled
efficiency both in terms of fuel usage and generator
management.
ES Off Grid System
The purpose of the E-Plex off grid system is to give you continuous power with the
minimum running of the generator whilst maintaining the batteries, storing sufficient
energy for a silent night time quiet period. If alternative energy (i.e. solar or a wind
turbine) is fitted, the system optimises this energy and allows enough room in the
batteries to store the excess for later use and to further reduce the run time of the
generator.
EPlex Control System
To be able to accomplish the above, you need an advanced control system that can
monitor many parameters including the charge state, solar generation and the load on
the inverter. This information is constantly processed within the control system to see
if any action is required.
Overload Protection
To prevent the inverter from being overloaded in high demand periods, the system
monitors the size of the load and its duration and calculates if a generator start and
assist is required.
Silent Period
This is a user-defined period, such as night time, which restricts the generator from
running. However, if the batteries become discharged below a safe level, then the
generator will automatically start up, and run to they are at a safe level.
End of Day Top-Up
At the end of the day, a top-up charge is used to ensure that by the start of the silent
period, the batteries contain enough charge to run the loads until the end of the silent
period, without having to start the generator. The duration of this charge is determined
by using the capacity of the charger, and the required change in SOC.
8Kw Off Grid system with
Li-ion batteries
Battery Monitor Synchronisation
In order to maintain the accuracy of the battery monitor measurements, the system
will track the time between full charges. If the battery has not been fully charged for
more than a week, the generator will run until a full charge is achieved. This will be
combined with the end of day top up charge to minimize the amount of additional
generator running time.
4 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
ES OFF GRID SYSTEM CONTROL
Standard control and optional remote control panels
Standard control and monitoring panel.
The E-Plex touch screen allows full control and monitoring
of the system. You can set your silent period, manually start
and stop the generator and monitor the battery status.
AS TPD CAPTAINS CABIN DOORWAY
RUN
TIME
99.6
RUN
+30
MIN
BATT
%
HOUSE
LOAD KW
GEN
LOAD KW
GEN
START
FUEL
LEVEL
GEN
STOP
Optional wired remote control and monitoring panel.
The status of the system can be viewed from a remote
control panel; this is usually positioned within the house
and allows you to monitor the system status and carry out a
remote start and timed run of the generator.
Optional iPad remote control and monitoring
Control and monitor your off grid system via your iPad.
With our new iPad interface you have a wireless link to view
your fuel tank levels, state of batteries, solar power input,
generator run times and current timed run as well as a host
of other features. This allows you to keep track of all the
elements of your system in one place.
The iPad display will show you the following:
House loads
Battery state of charge
Battery load charging/discharging
Solar power input
Generator load in KW
Generator running
Silent period active or inactive
Generator run time today and current timed run.
Text description stating why the generator is running.
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 5
WHY HAVE A GENERATOR?
Some off-grid systems do not feature a generator.
If the demands are very low or you have a reliable
renewable source you can engineer a system without
using a generator. These systems can be built up using
components that we supply.
However there are a number of reasons why a generator
is required:
All generators use fuel to just run even if they are
not delivering any power. This means that their actual
efficiency is very poor at low loads. We can see this in
the table below which shows typical efficiency levels and
fuel consumption figures for a 10 Kw generator. These
figures are summerised from extensive tests performed
by Victron Energy in Holland.
Specific fuel
consumption
(grams per
KwH generated
Actual fuel
consumption in
Litres per hour
Large seasonal variations in renewable energy
Load
applied
Seasonal changes in energy needs (often you need
more power when there is no sun!)
0%
Infinite
1.06 L/h
0.5 Kw
4%
2200g / KwH
1.22 L/h
High peak loads where a generator is required
1 Kw
8%
1200g / KwH
1.32 L/h
2 Kw
13%
680g / KwH
1.53 L/h
4 Kw
22%
400g / KwH
1.91 L/h
6 Kw
25%
350g / KwH
2.50 L/h
8 Kw
27%
310g / KwH
3.00 L/h
10 Kw
27%
300g / KwH
3.73 L/h
A need for having a reliable power source frozen
food, business interruption, heating
Our standard systems are all designed to work with a
generator. The purpose of the technology in the system
is to use the generator only if needed. This minimises
fuel consumption whilst ensuring reliable power.
If you dont want a generator dont panic! We can help
engineer a system to suit however these systems are
more bespoke so we cant offer a standard kit.
Why is generator loading so important?
The overall efficiency is based on diesel fuel containing
10.8 KwH of energy in every litre. In the table above,
at 1 Kw, the fuel used in an hour contains 13.2 KwH of
energy however the generator has only produced 1
KwH of electrical output 7%!
If we take a house with a daily average 15 KwH energy
consumption we can estimate fuel usage depending on
the power system configuration:
By using a battery system to store the energy you can
run the generator at high loads, to get the best possible
efficiency, and then use the stored power from the
batteries at other times.
8000
8000
7000
7000
6000
6000
5000
5000
4000
4000
3000
3000
Power [W]
Power [W]
The chart below shows the power consumed from a
generator that runs 17 hours a day. You can clearly see
the amount of time where the loads are very low. This
low loading results in very poor fuel efficiency.
2000
1000
Efficiency
2000
1000
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Time [h]
Generator potential
-2000
Power requirement
Time [h]
Generator potential
6 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
Power requirement
Inverter / Charger
ES OFF GRID SYSTEM OPTION AND SIZES
Advanced systems for generator optivmisation
(automated controls with manual override)
Frame mount system
We offer standard systems with 5Kw, 8Kw and 10 Kw
inverter chargers at their heart. Consider your needs
carefully when looking at the options. The 5 Kw systems
are less expensive but the inverters cannot reliably run
normal domestic requirements at all times in other
words you may need to run the generator at peak
demand times to deliver the power you need. This can
mean that you fall outside of the most efficient part of
the generators loading.
The larger 8 and 10 Kw and above systems will cost
more at first but are large enough to run most houses
without a generator. This allows you to fine tune the
generator running to save as much fuel as possible.
Containerised system
Whatever size your system, you can run the generator
manually if you choose. The inverter charger unit will
use spare power to charge the battery as needed and
can also borrow power from the battery to boost the
generator power if you have occasional peak demands.
The size of the inverter charger also limits the amount of
renewable energy that can be injected into the system.
The following table is a good starting point for sizing
your system:
System size
Max
renewable
Suggested
Generator
5 Kw
3.3 Kw
7 Kw
8 Kw
5.2 Kw
10 Kw
48v 39.3 Kwh
10 Kw
6.7 Kw
10 Kw
48v 53.0 Kwh
30 Kw
20 Kw
20 Kw (Max
36Kw)
50 Kw
33 Kw
30 Kw (Max
36Kw)
Custom systems
Battery Size
24v 26.5 Kwh
48v 39.3 Kwh
The 30Kw and 50 Kw systems are used for commercial
premises or off grid communities with a shared central
generator. These micro grid systems allow small
developments to share the capital costs whilst still
keeping the system efficient. Each property running
from the micro grid will have an export and import meter
so the communal costs can be fairly divided. Energy
Solutions can tailor these larger systems to suit the
particular site requirements.
30Kw System with 48v
3040Ah battery Bank
50Kw System with 48v 6080Ah battery Bank
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 7
FUEL CONSUMPTION TEST
We carried out a test that simulated the variable loads
experienced in many off-grid applications.
The aim of the tests were to look at running costs, not
capital costs, to see how much of a fuel saving our
systems offer over running a generator 24 / 7
The hardware
We used one of our containerised 8Kw off grid systems
with integral fuel tank and 6Kw generator. Then we
added a precision fuel monitor from Flo-Scan in Seattle
and our iPad interface. We also added a Victron Global
Remote Monitoring system so that data on battery
capacity and inverter activity could be logged.
The test
We ran the loads from the system and calculated
the litres of fuel per KWh of energy used. The energy
consumption varied, but bringing the results back to
these figures gives a very good indication of relative
efficiencies.
The variables
We wanted to test the benefits of adding a very simple
energy storage system for overnight silent running and
fuller automated control of the generator.
Solar power was also tested. Energy captured from the
solar panels means fewer generator running hours and
less fuel burnt.
Different battery technologies were also tested. We
selected conventional flooded lead acid (Rolls traction
batteries) and Lithium Ion (our own 700 Ah 24 volt bank
18 KwH).
Test 1: Run the generator 24/7 and see how much
energy was consumed and how much diesel was burnt.
We ran the test for 34 hours and the results were:
Amount
Fuel burnt
62.5 litres
Energy consumed
67.1 KwH
Value
Litres per KwH consumed 0.93
0.708
Solar Income
Overall cost per KwH
0.708
It showed there is a decent amount of saving to go after.
Add the replacement costs of the generator and the
costs only go up!
8 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
Test 2: Run the generator all day (charging a battery
and running the loads) and then run the loads from the
battery overnight.
This test was performed with Lithium Ion
batteries which we anticipated to be more
efficient than lead acid (we tested this later). We
ran this test for 5 days and the results were:
Amount
Value
Fuel burnt
42.6 litres
Energy consumed
62.9 KwH
Litres per KwH consumed
0.68
0.515
Solar Income
Overall cost per KwH
0.515
Test 3: The third test was based on running the loads
from the inverter and only running the generator when
it was needed to recharge the batteries. This meant
that the generator was loaded heavily when it did run
which kept its fuel efficiency high and the running hours
low. We ran the test for 10 days and the results were:
Amount
Value
Fuel burnt
123.1 litres
Energy consumed
309.4 KwH
Litres per KwH consumed
0.49
0.372
Solar Income
Overall cost per KwH
0.372
The test was repeated with a set of brand new Rolls
traction batteries and found that this increased the fuel
consumption by over 12%. Bearing in mind that lead
acid batteries have a steady decrease in performance
we would estimate that Lithium would save 15%-20%
fuel costs over the course of their life.
FUEL CONSUMPTION TEST
Test 4: Solar power was added to the same set up as
in the third test. This meant that the generator only now
runs when the solar fails to keep up with the loads and
battery charging duties. We used a 3.6 Kw peak solar
system. Again the generator was loaded heavily when
it did run which kept its fuel efficiency high and the
running hours as low as possible. We ran the test for 18
days and the results are:
Amount
Test 5: More solar power was added to the same set up
as the fourth test. It was increased from 3.6 Kw peak to
5.6 Kw peak.
Again the generator was loaded heavily when it did run
which kept its fuel efficiency high and the running hours
as low as possible.
Value
Amount
Fuel burnt
132.6 litres
Fuel burnt
6.1 litres
Energy consumed
473.4 KwH
Energy consumed
58.1 KwH
Litres per KwH consumed
0.28
Solar Income
Overall cost per KwH
0.213
Value
Litres per KwH consumed 0.10
0.080
278.7 KwH (58.53) 0.124
Solar Income
55.7 KwH (11.70)
0.122
Overall cost per KwH
-0.12
0.09
Conclusions: The tests show that with the correct mixture of renewable energy it is possible to engineer a
system that can produce electricity at a much lower price than from a generator on its own.
It is possible to cut fuel costs by almost 90%.
The results will vary upon the time of year but these figures give a guide to the costs across the year.
Recovering waste heat from the generator will improve energy efficiency further still.
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 9
STANDARD FRAME MOUNT SYSTEM
Generator
ES offgrid v0.8
Gen
running
Fuel 0%
Bat
19.7v
26.0%
House 0.0kW
Quattro
5
1 20
Battery Bank
Off Grid System application chart
System size
Solar inverter
limit
Solar panel maximum
capacity
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-24-03000
1.6 Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-24-05000
2.8 Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-24-08000
4.8 Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-48-05000
3.3
Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-48-08000
5.2
Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-48-10000
6.7
Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-48-15000
10.0 Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-48-16000
10.5 Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-48-20000
13.5 Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-48-24000
15.8 Kw peak
OFFGRID-EP-FR-SP-48-30000
20.0 Kw peak
No limit apart from
working within inverter
upper DC voltage
limits at open circuit.
Normal on grid
practice is to oversize
panels to inverter by
20%. Normal off grid
practice is to increase
this further as needed
(up to 100% oversize)
to maximise yield
outside of summer
months. This allows
the solar inverter to
be sized to match
the off grid inverter
but to have a larger
solar panel capacity
for increased winter
performance.
10 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
Available
Frame
Mounted
Available
Containerised
Suggested
Gen size
Solar
ready
Yes
Available
3 6 Kw
Yes
Yes
Available
4 8 Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
7 11 Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
48
Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
8 12 Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
9 13 Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
15 20 Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
15 20 Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
20 30 Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
25 35 Kw
Yes
Yes
Yes
30 45 Kw
Yes
STANDARD SYSTEM WITH RENEWABLES
Optional wired remote panel and iPad interface for control and monitoring
Optional
Solar PV
Generator
Optional External
Fuel Tank
ES offgrid v0.8
Gen
running
Fuel 0%
Bat
19.7v
26.0%
House 0.0kW
E-Plex
BlueSolar Grid Converter
Optional
control touch panel
and/or iPad control
Quattro
5
12345
1 20
NORMAL
FAULT
AS TPD CAPTAINS CABIN DOORWAY
RUN
TIME
99.6
RUN
+30
MIN
BATT
%
HOUSE
LOAD KW
GEN
LOAD KW
GEN
START
FUEL
LEVEL
GEN
STOP
Solar inverter mounted on rear of Off Grid frame
Battery Bank
Maximising renewables
Our off grid systems incorporate an advanced management system ( E-Plex ) which allows us to optimise the
storage of solar generated power for later use.
Conventional systems start the diesel generator when the batteries become discharged and run until the
batteries are charged. This usually occurs in the mid-morning after a night running on the inverter and some high
loads at breakfast time.
In these systems it is quite normal for the batteries to be charged by mid-morning. This leaves no room for
any solar generated and free or revenue earning power to be stored. If your batteries are full, and you are not
consuming power the solar will automatically switched off.
E-Plex Control systems work so that the batteries contain enough charge to run through the night silent period
without having to run the generator. If there has not been enough generation throughout the day by alternative
energies (eg. solar or wind) then the generator will run to top the batteries up. It is calculated by the state of the
charge of the batteries and the capacity of the charger. This keeps the generator running time to a minimum and
maximises the return from income tariffs, reducing costs.
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 11
BATTERY SELECTION
We offer two types of battery technology with
our systems. Understanding the way that
different batteries work will help you to choose
the best option for you.
Lithium Ion batteries
Our upgrade option for batteries is Lithium Ion.
These batteries carry a significant up front cost. They
are available in different formulas, but are used in
electric cars, smart phones and power tools. Their life
expectancy is 2 - 4,000 cycles giving 5 10 years.
Deep cycle batteries
Our default offering is a battery bank formed from
deep cycle lead acid batteries. These types of batteries
are used in forklift trucks, electric vehicles and other
high power, high discharge applications. They are
conventional lead acid cells, but are designed to cope
with deep discharge levels and repeated cycling. Their
life expectancy is 2 - 3,200 cycles giving 5 10 years.
Lead acid batteries have two characteristics that are
important to this application. The first is that the deeper
the battery is discharged on a daily basis the fewer
cycles you will get. The best price / performance balance
is reached by sizing the batteries so that you do not take
them below 50% full.
The next characteristic to consider is
the rate that the battery will accept
a charge. Lead acid batteries can be
charged quickly (approx 15% of their
capacity) to 80% charged. After this
point the rate that they can be charged
at gradually drops. This means that
getting a battery fully charged takes us
into the area of really poor generator
efficiency! We cope with this by
stopping the automated charge on most days at 80%.
This means that we are only using the battery between
50% and 80% in the main. This optimises battery life
and generator efficiency but also means that we are
only using 30% of the stated capacity of the battery.
The final characteristic that we need to be aware of is
the charge efficiency of a lead acid battery. We know
that we can store energy in a battery. However the bad
news is that you dont get back all the energy you put
in. In fact the efficiency is around 75% for a lead acid
battery. This means that 25% of all energy generated
from a diesel genset or solar system, if put into a battery
bank, is lost as heat. Remember, however, that this
charging efficiency is much less of a problem than
running the generator lightly loaded!
12 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
Lithium Ion batteries differ in
their characteristics from lead
acid. They suffer less with
reduced life through deep
discharge (in fact charge
quality is the most important
issue with battery life). This
means that we can use all the
stated battery capacity.
The next difference is the rate that the battery will accept
a charge. Lithium Ion batteries can be charged very
quickly (approx 100% of their capacity) all the way to
100% charged. This means that getting a battery fully
charged presents no problems with generator efficiency.
This means that we can now use 100% of the stated
capacity of the battery.
The charge efficiency of a Lithium Ion battery is also
dramatically improved it is 98%. This means that
almost all the precious energy generated from a diesel
genset or solar system can be used.
The cumulative effect of these differences in
characteristics is a dramatic difference in the
battery sizing for the different technologies.
If we take a 1,000 Ah lead acid battery as a
reference we can calculate the following:
To optimise battery life and generator loading
we operate the battery between 50 and 80%
- effectively we use only 300 Ah of capacity.
Of this 300 Ah of capacity 25% is lost
through the charge discharge process. We
can either view this as lost energy in or
a further reduction in battery capacity to
225Ah.
This means that a 360 Ah Lithium Ion battery offers
significantly more useable power than a 1,000 Ah 2
volt battery bank in this type of application.
GENERATOR OPTIONS
We are happy to work with any generator. If you are
choosing a generator we suggest you consider the
following:
Generator running speed Generators are
built to run at either 3,000 Rpm or 1,500 Rpm. The
slow speed sets will be much more durable as
the engine speed means the unit travels half the
distance every hour it runs. The forces in the engine
are also reduced exponentially meaning that it travels
half the distance every hour but should also be able
to do a much longer distance. A good expectation is
for a 1,500 Rpm machine to last 4 times the hours of
a 3,000 Rpm machine.
Duty cycle generators can be built for occasional
stand by use where they are expected to only
operate a small number of hours a year or for prime
power where they are expected to be operating
long hours even 24/7. Stand by machines are
not designed for the duty expected in an off grid
application.
Autostart An Autostart system is required for the
automated off grid systems. An autostart system can
take a signal from our system and then correctly take
the generator through the pre-heat and crank cycle to
start the generator.
Fuel efficiency Look carefully at the fuel
consumption figures at full and half load for the
machine you are looking at. Fuel saved can justify
spending that bit more on the generator.
Heat recovery If your property can utilise any
waste heat from the generator then you need to
make sure you can capture that energy. This will be
a combination of jacket water and exhaust gas heat
recovery.
Simplicity Remember that this machine is an
essential part of your power system. A simple, reliable
machine that can be easily maintained and repaired is
important.
Fuel system Spend money on good filtration and
fuel conditioning. Most diesel generator problems are
fuel related. Money spent on fuel filtration will be paid
back many times!
What we offer
We offer Northern Lights, Caterpillar and SDMO
generators. We can offer these machines with
heat recovery and, of course, auto start.
Features
Four cycle, 3 cylinder liquid cooled, naturally
aspirated, overhead valve, industrial-duty
diesel.
Indirect injection with glow plugs for fast cold
weather starts.
Based on heavy-duty tractor engine blocks
customised for optimal prime power
production.
With proper maintenance they have logged
over 25,000 hours.
Low torque operating at 1500 at 50Hz,
they exhibit less wear and tear than the
competitors light weight intermittent duty
3000 rpm gensets.
To ensure ease of maintenance all key service
points are on a common side. Low oil pressure
and high coolant temperature shutdowns
protect your investment.
Liquid cooled with radiator and pusher cooling
fan. Steel radiator shroud and fan guard
protects the radiator and operator.
Four centre-boned mounts isolate vibration.
Large, replaceable air filter protects engine in
dusty environments.
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 13
SAVING EVEN MORE WITH RENEWABLES
So far we have just looked at optimising
generator usage. However we can save yet
more precious fuel by integrating renewable
energy into the system.
Solar panels generate DC power that can, via a solar
regulator, charge a battery. However we can replace a
solar regulator with a solar inverter that will convert this
DC power to 230 v AC. This power can then be fed,
via a power meter, to our system where we can use it
to run household equipment or charge the batteries.
If done this way (and installed by an MCS accredited
installer such as Energy Solutions) the power generated
is eligible for the government backed Feed in Tariff (FIT).
You will get paid for every kilowatt hour the system
generates (the rate is currently 2 - 4Kwp is 14.4p per
KwH and 4 - 10Kwp is 13.05p per KwH)
A 4 Kw solar system will generate approximately 3,000
KwH per year. This will earn you 435 from the Feed
in Tariff and could save you (assuming you are getting
20% efficiency on average from your generator) a further
1,500 litres of fuel if you could use all the solar energy
generated. In reality there will be periods in the summer
where the system generates more than you use so,
whilst we can engineer the system to almost guarantee
the 435 FIT we should assume that we will only realise
65% of the fuel saving.
14 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
Of course you will find the generator running more hours
in the winter when the days are short and the sun low
in the sky. However there will be days in the summer
when the generator will not need to run at all. We have a
system in use in a 3 bedroom remote house and a 4 Kw
solar system where the client has recorded weeks in the
summer with less than 2 hours generator run time.
Can even more be saved?
All the figures above can be improved further
by energy saving! If you dont use it then you
dont need to generate, store or convert the
energy. Whilst you may not want to change
your lifestyle if living off grid at first it can soon
become a satisfying obsession to reduce your
fuel consumption and our systems can help you
with that!
Whilst we have focused on electrical requirements
in this overview there is an obvious opportunity
to capture some of the wasted energy from the
generator by using that waste heat to contribute
towards heating water and heating the house.
The 75% of the energy wasted by the generator
is lost as heat and noise. Not all of that heat can
be fully recovered but a lot can! We can help
you integrate this waste heat into your system.
CASE STUDIES
Off Grid House and stable complex
Solution
1x 24/5000/120 ES Off Grid Kit
1104 Ah batteries at 24V
1x 11KVA Generator
Due to the cost and difficulties in connecting to the
National Grid, we were approached by a customer
to design and commission an off grid system in a
large rural dwelling and stable complex. The system
had to be completely automated, providing 24 hour
continuous power.
The customer initially considered installing a large
generator, and running it continually. However, it soon
became apparent that this option would be costly, noisy
and inefficient.
Instead, the customer opted for a standard Energy
Solutionss 5kw off-grid kit, whos features fitted his
requirements. Subsequently, Energy Solution supplied
the kit, configured with the customers specified
configuration and generator run-times. This was then
installed by a local electrician.
The system now provides the customer with a
comprehensive management of the generator
running times , including pre-defined runs , a weekly
synchronisation charge, a silent period (ie. Night-time),
automatic generator running if batteries discharge
becomes low or if there is an unusual high load demand.
Within the house is situated a control panel, which
provides the customer with information regarding the
status of the system, and allows him to remotely start/
stop the generator.
The system has significantly reduced the running hours
of the generator, but still provides 24 hour power. It
is expected that the ES Offgrid system costs will be
recovered within 3-4 years due to the savings in diesel
and servicing costs.
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 15
CASE STUDIES
Off Grid System for Oxfordshire Barn
Solution
3x MultiPlus 48/3000/35
820Ah Batteries at 48V
5.85Kwp Solar Panel array
Solar Inverter
ES DC Link Box
BMV600 Battery Monitor
For some businesses the best option for new
operations are remote locations. This proved to be
the case for a client based in Oxfordshire that wanted
to start breeding game birds on their farmland.
A barn was purpose built for the new operation but
being in the middle of field connecting to the grid was
not an option. Off grid power was seen to be the most
efficient way to supply the heat and light required for the
breeding and housing of the birds throughout the year.
Space was of a premium within the barn so the off grid
system needed to be kept external to the building. Solar
panels were installed by a local supplier and Energy
Solutions designed a complete storage, monitoring and
control system housed within a dedicated container.
16 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
CASE STUDIES
Remote Home in Lincolnshire
Solution
5kw Victron Inverter / Charger
7kw Northern Lights Generator
1100Ah Rolls Batteries
ES Remote Panel
The client owns a detached property in a rural part of Lincolnshire. He had always relied on an
off-grid system to provide the power for his home. However, his existing system proved expensive,
noisy and unreliable, and frequently required him running a generator for 16 hours per day.
After learning about Energy Solutions range of OffGrid systems, which focused on reducing generator
run times, the customer contacted us. We undertook
a site survey to establish his power needs, peak loads
and consumption, present and future. It was decided to
install a 5kW off grid kit, a 7kw Northern Lights generator
and 1100Ah Rolls batteries. This was perfect for both his
current needs and future requirements, whilst allowing
for solar panels to be added at a later date as the clients
budget allows.
To make the system convenient, and easy-to-operate,
the remote control panel was located in the kitchen
area. The client could therefore monitor the system at all
times, and if needed, carry out a remote generator startup from inside the house.
The off-grid system was installed in a small outbuilding.
Installation took one day to complete, and it was
operational immediately.
The biggest savings for the customer is the reduction in
generator running times, and fuel costs. It is estimated
that his fuel costs have been reduced by 5k per
year, as the new system generator will be running for
only 3 hours per day, resulting also in a quieter home
environment.
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 17
CASE STUDIES
Silent power for remote home in Kent
Solution
5kw Victron Inverter / Charger
2kwp Solar (PV)
2kw Victron Solar Inverter
1100Ah Rolls Batteries
ES Remote Panel
Customers Generator
We were approached to supply an off grid system for
a weekend retreat home in a remote location in Kent,
in Spring 2012. At the time the owner was solely
using a generator to provide power, but this was
proving to be a noisy and uneconomic option. The
main requirement of the new off grid solution was to
have near silent running with only minimal use of the
generator.
Our solution was to supply a standard Energy Solutions
5Kw off grid kit with the addition of 2Kwp of solar. The
generator will only run if there is a shortage in energy
produced from the solar.
The roof mounted solar panels were designed to have a
minimal visual impact on the home. Positioned within
the roof gully to be as unobtrusive yet efficient as
possible they were installed and commissioned by our
own MCS registered team, allowing the customer to
claim an income from the Governments generation tariff
for the power created.
The system has been running throughout the summer
with all energy being provided silently by the solar, any
excess energy is stored in the batteries for use later.
During the winter when there is less sun the batteries will
be charged during the week ready for weekend use.
18 | Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential
CASE STUDIES
Commercial Off Grid Solution in Somerset
Solution
9x Quattro 48/10000/140
6080Ah Batteries at 48V
57Kwp Solar Panel array
9x Solar Inverters
BMV600 Battery Monitor
Custom steel fabricated rack
Energy Solutions were called in to set up a
commercial off grid development in Somerset. The
client had already decided that solar was the best
option for the site but needed a specialist team to
design and install a comprehensive off grid power
system that would be able to store the power
generated and offer sophisticated control and
monitoring.
The remote site was installed with a 57kwp solar array
which was ample to supply power to the business at all
times, including nights and times with no sun. The off
grid system was designed to store the excess power for
these periods.
Working closely with the clients existing solar supplier,
Energy Solutions, designed a large off grid system that
consisted of specialist solar batteries and inverter /
chargers.
Although the site was remote and the installation
required quickly, Energy Solutions rose to the challenge
and the entire design, manufacture and installation was
completed in just two weeks.
Off Grid Power Solutions - Residential | 19
Sales Office and Production
T. 01634 290772 UK
T. +44 1634 290772 International
F. 01634 290773 UK
F. +44 1634 290773 International
E. sales@energy-solutions.co.uk
Energy Solutions, George Summers Close, Medway City Estate, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4EL UK
Visit us online at:
www.energy-solutions.co.uk
P O W E R AT Y O U R C O N T R O L
