Recently Apex Energy Australia, a trusted and experienced supplier, designer and integrator of solar, battery storage, electric vehicle chargers and microgrid solutions based in Adelaide, provided a comprehensive off-grid energy solution for an new energy efficient residential home on the Fleurieu Peninsula, in South Australia.
The Apex Energy team thoroughly assessed the daily energy consumption of the 100% electric home. The demand turned out at 40 kWh, including hot water, heating, and cooling. The absence of a nearby grid connection represented a unique challenge which was effectively addressed by designing a PV installation equipped with storage system able to meet such requirement with minimal generator backup. The carefully designed off-grid installation now ensures uninterrupted, reliable power for the residence.
The key components of the off-grid energy system are exclusively top-quality products, selected by evaluating the reliability and efficiency of the same, in order to ensure that the system operates smoothly and effectively. The solar array, inverters, and battery storage work together to optimize energy production and storage, while the inverter/charger manages the flow of electricity within the system.
Apex Energy designed, installed, and commissioned a 19.92 kW free-standing solar array featuring:
- 2 x FIMER UNO-DM 6kW single-phase solar inverter
- 48 x Jinko Tiger NEO 415W N-Type Solar Panels
- 1 x Selectronic SP PRO Series 2i SPMC482-AU 7.5kW 48Vdc
- 1 x Selectronic Select.Live
- 1 x AERL Coolmax 24V/48V 70A SRX MPPT Solar Charge Controller
- 12x PowerPlus Energy ECO 48VDC 4.0kWh LFP Battery
- 1x PowerPlus Energy 18x Battery Cabinet IP21
- 2x CBI Electric DC Solar Battery Isolator to suit the AERL MPPT & Selectronic SP Pro
UNO-DM-PLUS-Q by FIMER was chosen for the project because it is a reliable solar inverter, compatible with Selectronic off-grid applications with a proven and consolidated record. It also features an advanced communication system that enables it to be controlled by the off-grid inverter/charger, which is essential for an off-grid system.
The design wraps FIMER’s quality and engineering into a lightweight and compact package thanks to technological choices optimized for installations with different orientation.
The inverter allows high performance in a minimum space and has a dual Maximum Power Point Tracker (2 MPPT).
The solar array layout was specifically designed to align with the block gradient and maximize solar production for direct daily consumption. Three different orientations, including north, northeast, and northwest, were strategically chosen to generate a more consistent daily solar curve, which closely matches the property’s timed energy demand. This approach ensures that the solar production is optimized to meet the property’s energy needs throughout the day.
Colin Lord, Technical Manager at Apex Energy, said: "The system is currently being monitored remotely and in real-time and we can confirm that no downtime has been faced since commissioning. The selection of top-tier components for the project, including the UNO-DM solar solution by FIMER, along with our expertise has shown to be a winning combination."
With regards to the project, Divya Kumar, Regional Sales Director for Asia Pacific & Americas at FIMER stated: “We are pleased that our solar solutions were selected for this one-of-a-kind installation. Apex Energy is a valued partner for FIMER and we are looking forward to providing our support for future projects.”