212kWp Solar System and 400kWh BESS at Rustenburg Girls' High School
Treetops was chosen as the preferred partner for this project by the RGHS and Proco (formerly SchoolAdvisor). The key to success for this project was to leverage the existing electrical infrastructure and the state-of-the-art technology from SolarEdge to create a decentralised Solar System across the campus, which communicates and operates alongside the SolarEdge BESS to achieve maximum performance and savings for the school.
The Solar and BESS System for Rustenburg Girls' High School is forecasted to save over R800,000 in the first year PLUS achieve additional income by feeding back surplus Solar Power into the grid, which City of Cape Town purchases back. This leads to an incredible ROI of over 20%, while providing reliable backup and clean power to the school.
212kWp Solar Panels - safely optimised with SolarEdge
One of the differentiating factors was that we suggested the implementation with SolarEdge. The uniqueness lies with an industry-leading safety feature, where every 2 Solar Panels are optimised individually and can be switched off individually. This reduces the idle voltage per string to <20V and makes it safe to the touch. Secondly, it features the most advanced fire-safety, as triggering the emergency stop reduces the voltage on all roofs to less than 20V, making it 100% safe for the fire to be extinguished.
400kWh state-of-the-art BESS
SolarEdge, as one of the world-leaders in Solar, has released an exceptional Battery Storage System with 100kWh each. This is used to supply the school with Electricity during Power Outages, as well as offsets the schools' electricity consumption at night.
Important benefit: The units are fully outdoor proof, with built-in airconditioning and fire extinguishers. This ensures flexible placement and that valuable space indoors remains free for the school to use.
Compact and modular Solar Inverters with the longest warranties
Our Design Philosophy is modularity and redundancy. The MPPT are moved onto the roof behind every 2 panels, eliminating the primary source of failures from the inverter. If an MPPT fails, there are only 2 Solar Panels affected - not a whole string or worst case a whole inverter.
And with a standard warranty of 25 years on Power Optimisers (MPPT on the roof) and 12 years on the inverters, this system is engineered and built to last.
Planning, planning, planning
This project in particular required us to think outside the box. Building the whole System in one spot would cause enourmous cable runs and require to dig up multiple asphalted roads, causing disruptions. Installing the system in the originally designated spot, the headmasters garden, would be a noise nuisance and eyesore. The solution? A detailed site survey, revealing a potential to use CoCT land around the main incomer, applying to the relevant department and securing the absolute best option for our client.
The "Treepeople" making it happen
We are incredibly proud of our in-house team for what they have achieved on this project. The precision and professionalism was a marvel and both, the schools' headmaster and estate manager, could not praise them enough while they carried out their work and when they are showing off their beautiful Solar and BESS System to learners, staff, parents and friends.
The school had 3 main motivators to implement this Solar and BESS System.
1. Sustainability to reduce carbon emissions by relying on grid power, which is largely produced by coal power stations
2. Financial Return and freeing up of resources to be put towards improving the life and learning experience
3. Protection against Power Outages, especially Load-Shedding.
The school did a total of 3 tenders over 4 years for this project, until it found a solution and partner it could trust to execute this to the standard they envisioned and required. We are still proud to have been chosen for this and for the amazing relationship that has developed since.
The original system implementation and performance was so positive that the school already started multiple additional projects and additions to the existing system with us.
We also have a video of the System! Have a look below and enjoy.