Sample of renewable energy instalations

Spain: A MultiPlus/Skylla combination

A private home suffering from a poor connection to the Spanish grid. Often this causes its power supply to disappear completely. When grid is available, two Victron Skylla battery chargers pull the maximum available current. Through a three-phase 48V system consisting out of 12 Victron 48/3000 MultiPlus units the battery bank can deliver the peak power that is needed. Whereas the two battery chargers recharge the batteries when the power demand is low (mainly at nighttime). The generator is merely used when the grid power is unavailable for a longer period of time.

Botswana, Africa: an entire camp running solely on solar power

This installation, provides an ultra luxurious 5-star African camp with all of the energy it desires. Being the first in the world to run entirely on solar power, the Zarafa camp in the Selinda reserve is setting a trend. National Geographic Adventures has honored the camp as one of the best 25 eco-lodges in the world. This isn’t very surprising considering its intense beauty and luxury. The capacity of the solar installation is 127kW which feeds into 96x 2.2V flooded traction batteries. A 45kVa super silent generator is used merely as a backup for the system and is hardly ever used.

Valencia, Spain: Victron keeping fish alive

This Spanish fish farm near Valencia switched to an autonomous Victron system in order to prevent their fish from dying. Due to the unreliable grid connection the high risk of death was unacceptable. Sol de Hogar installed 12 Victron Multi’s and 10 Victron Skylla’s. Together with a 100kVA generator and solar panels the Victron system can secure the safety of the fish.

Toledo, Spain: A MultiPlus system

This Spanish off-grid home is dependent on a generator and solar panels. Victron Energy installed 9 MultiPlus units which are connected to a 4000Ah 48V battery system. The Battery bank is charged by both the solar panels and (through the Multi’s) the generator. This hybrid configuration results in a reduction of generator operating time by 75% and a reduction of fuel consumption by 60%. Sufficient free space around each MultiPlus unit was created for ventilation purposes. In order to ensure proper cooling the ventilation openings are not blocked in any way.

Pyrenees, France: base camp relies on Victron

This old Catalan farm was transformed into an exclusive hostelry accommodation. There was one problem however: no electricity. There was no way to get it there except at extreme costs while at the same time spoiling the landscape with power lines and poles. The solution? A hybrid eco-technology system, consisting of a generator, solar panels, batteries and inverter/chargers. Thus a 50kW generator, a set of 9 Victron MultiPlus units and a battery bank of 48V/2000Ah were installed. Plans for the near future include 300m² solar panels, two more battery banks and doubling the amount of MultiPlus units to reach 50kW, almost 100kW when PowerAssist kicks in. In the end, the generator will be practically superfluous.

Mount Everest: the MultiPlus on its way ‘to the top’

‘The robust construction, compact dimensions and unrivalled reputation for dependability in demanding circumstances were the key reasons why the MultiPlus has been chosen for this project.’ Together with Honda portable generators and Exide batteries Victron’s MultiPlus inverter/charger combination ensured that power requirements were fully satisfied during the X-treme Everest Expedition. “We were so pleased with the MultiPlus, it has never let us down” said Mac Mckenney, expedition manager. The inverter/charger assured power supply at all times: providing sophisticated battery charging from the generator and switching seamlessly to deliver inverter power if the generator suplpy was interrupted. The Victron unit was the first choice of the expedition organizers and, when approached, Victron Energy was more than pleased to be involved.