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Egli — Phases 1 & 2
Some businesses wait for the grid to get better. Egli stopped waiting.
- Solar PV
- 976 kWp
- Battery storage
- 2.15 MWh
The project
Egli, the engineering arm of the Truda Foods Group, is one of the first manufacturing facilities in South Africa to operate fully off-grid.
We did not rush the second phase. After Phase 1 was commissioned, we spent six months studying the site's load profile with Egli's team. That data let us size the Phase 2 equipment precisely and reach full off-grid operation at the lowest possible capital cost.
The plant now runs on three layers of supply. By day, 976 kWp of solar powers the factory and charges the batteries. At night, the 2.15 MWh battery system carries the load. In extended poor weather, the 600 kVA generator is the last line of supply.
Changeover is automatic and governed by the batteries' state of charge. When charge falls to 20%, the generator starts, carries the load and recharges the batteries at the same time. At 50%, it steps back and the batteries take over again. Production is not interrupted.
Key facts
- Location: Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
- Client: Truda Foods Group
- Sector: Industrial & Manufacturing
- System type: Off-Grid
- Solar PV: 976 kWp
- Battery storage: 2.15 MWh
- Scope highlights: 600 kVA Generator Integration · Fully Off-Grid
- Status: Completed
One of SA's first fully off-grid manufacturing facilities
Sunbird Solar (Pty) Ltd
Unit 7, Wow Business Park, Gourly Road, Ballito, 4420, South Africa
Office: +27 87 711 3013
Email: jordan@sunbirdsolar.co.za