WML Energy

WML Energy WML Energy has been providing solar and renewable energy solutions since 2018

15/11/2022

Choosing ‘cheap’ solar systems could cost you big in the long run

Load shedding is at an all-time high in South Africa at the moment and many of the country’s citizens are reaching new levels of desperation. A lot of people are turning towards UPS systems, generators, and solar power to help them win the fight against constant power outages. Buying cheap, however, may cost consumers in the long run – especially when it comes to the kind of solar power systems they choose.

An expert just revealed how much it is likely to cost the buyer if they bought a solar system that needed constant repairing.

CHEAP SOLAR SYSTEMS CAN COST YOU IN THE LONG RUN, EXPERTS WARN
For the past few weeks, Eskom has left South Africans to deal with almost nine hours of load shedding under level five and six stages of power cuts.

The constant outages have left many people feeling angry at both the power company and the government as they cannot afford to pay for energy alternatives.

For those who can afford generators, UPS systems, and solar power, Alumo Energy managing director Rein Snoeck Henkemans shared the following advice with BusinessTech regarding the repercussions of choosing the cheapest options – particularly when it comes to solar power.

According to Henkemans, buying cheap isn’t always the bargain it may feel like. In fact, installing a poor-quality system may cost you up to 50% more in the long run.

CHOOSING THE BEST OPTION FOR YOUR POCKET
“As the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Simply choosing the cheapest option may mean lower upfront costs, but cost you thousands of rands extra in replacing components, as well as maintenance and repairs over time.”

He also stressed the importance of choosing a provider that will ensure that your system is installed correctly and in keeping with all the relevant regulatory requirements.

“We’ve seen numerous cases of homeowners who have been unable to claim their money back after having a poor system installed by fly-by-night operators who have subsequently disappeared or gone broke, forcing them to contract yet another provider to help fix the problem,” he said.

Published by The South African
and written by Marilynn Manuel (26-09-2022)

15/11/2022

Eskom wants to charge you almost R1,000 for NOT using electricity
By Kevin Mileham*

Eskom’s plan, through its latest tariff application to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), to require that on-grid solar users pay R938 per month even if they don’t use its electricity is extortionate and violates consumer rights.

Instead of incentivizing small scale embedded generation to relieve pressure on the grid and alleviate loadshedding, Eskom appears determined to punish homeowners and businesses who want to install solar systems as an alternative power source. This is regressive and negates every claim that the government has said about opening up the grid to independent power producers.

Faced with the prospect of assured relegation to the fringes of South Africa’s electricity market, due to its own inefficiencies and moribund business model, Eskom now wants to hang on to its failing monopoly through consumer extortion.

The origin of this ill-thought extortionate idea can be traced to the doorstep of South Africa’s failing energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe. His latest fantasy for an Eskom 2.0 is clear evidence that he is unable to comprehend that any Eskom model, in whatever form, will not solve South Africa’s electricity crisis.

Eskom’s R938 tariff charge on solar users has laid bare the chaos that is currently prevailing in President Ramaphosa’s government on the energy front. Recently we were told that the National Planning Commission in the President’s Office recommended the opening up of the energy sector to renewable energy to solve the energy crisis. In fact, media reports indicate that this is exactly what Ramaphosa will announce in his measures to address the energy crisis. The question then, is how does the President and his government plan to accomplish this when they are making it extremely expensive to promote rooftop solar generation?

If Ramaphosa is serious about solving the loadshedding crisis in the shortest possible time, he would immediately reject this R938 extortion fee on solar users. Instead, solar installation incentives should be announced to ensure that more people are motivated to consider solar energy as an alternative to Eskom’s unreliable power supply.

Vietnam, a country which had previously been heavily dependent on coal for electricity generation, now has more than 101,000 rooftop installations on homes, offices and factories, creating a 25-fold increase in its solar generating capacity in just one year. This is what South Africa should be aiming for instead of the stale ideas put forward by Gwede Mantashe and his enablers.

Kevin Mileham is the DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. (original article 19 July 2022)

15/11/2022

We are often faced with questions around batteries and what type to use.
If you are ready to make the switch from Lead Acid batteries to Lithium, or you have decided to bite the financial bullet that accompanies Lithium battery purchases, you are on a winning streak. The best thing about this lithium battery is that you won’t have to worry about exceeding 50% depth of discharge as you have with deep-cycle lead-acid batteries. You can get the full 100ah or 200ah from the battery. But remember the recommended depth of discharge is 80% for longer battery life.

What to look out for:
Voltage: Depending on your requirements you will use a 48V system in a residential or small scale commercial environment. 24V and 12V is better suited to the recreational market (camping, boating etc) although some 24V systems can provide limited AC power for residential backup (laptop, TV and a lamp or two).

Amp-Hour Rating: An essential factor to look at when considering battery storage options. Batteries are rated in Ah (amp-hours). The amp hour rating is a measurement of the current output over time. For example a 1 amp-hour battery should be able to continuously supply 1 amp for an hour.
The Amp-hour rating dictates how long you can use the battery and what types of loads you can place a battery. The goal is to run the battery over an extended period of time (with loadshedding 2-4 hours +)

Battery “C” Rating
“C” rating is very important, and often overlooked in making battery decisions, A battery “C” rating indicates the maximum current a battery can deliver at any given moment. The “C” value is simply a multiplier of the amp-hour capacity rating of the battery. A battery rated as 3C can deliver a maximum current of 3 times the C value of the battery.

Cycle Life
Every time a battery is discharged and recharged this is called a cycle. Cycle life is the number of times a battery can be charged and discharged. This is used to calculate the life of battery. A lithium battery can last up to 5000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

BMS (Battery Management System)
A BMS protects the battery from overcharging, undercharging and discharging too fast. Most lithium batteries should come with an built-in BMS which interfaces (ideally) to your inverter. This ensures that your battery and inverter are optimally synchronized.

The above are but a few consideraions you should look at when evaluating batteries and the cost thereof

15/11/2022

Eskom warns of Koeberg project risk

South Africa's only nuclear plant should reach the end of its 40-year design life in 2024. To extend this, ESKOM has begun a mammoth project to replace the steam generators on both its units at Koeberg.

In all, six of these need to be replaced. Eskom had originally planned to undertake the steam generator replacement on unit two during its refueling outage from January 2022. This was postponed as any delays in completing the work – which were realistic – posed “significant risk” to the grid.

In the end, delays in bringing the unit back online after refueling, and a far less complex part replacement than the aborted steam generators, meant it was still resynchronized to the grid four months later than planned.

courtesy: Moneyweb 8 Nov 2022

Another Solis 5K hybrid installation in April 2022
08/11/2022

Another Solis 5K hybrid installation in April 2022

When your old inverter calls it quits, we are able to assist as a matter of urgency - especially on a Friday
08/11/2022

When your old inverter calls it quits, we are able to assist as a matter of urgency - especially on a Friday

Another satisfied client that does not worry about loadshedding
08/11/2022

Another satisfied client that does not worry about loadshedding

Address

Darling
7345

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 17:30
Tuesday 07:30 - 17:30
Wednesday 07:30 - 17:30
Thursday 07:30 - 17:30
Friday 07:30 - 17:30

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when WML Energy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to WML Energy:

Shortcuts

Share

Category