WINTER BONUS MAGAZINE 2025

plans to cut Eskom out entirely. The current system size is a 50 kW inverter, 30 kWh battery storage with 20 kWp Solar PV. Their proposed system upgrade retains the 50 kW inverter, upgrading to 120 kWh of battery storage, and 52 kWp of solar PV, which is enough to generate up to 250 kWh per day. It’s a bold step toward full energy independence. The solution provider Ordiphase and the GreenTower ESS Ordiphase, a SAPVIA-approved Green Card installer and authorised Sunsynk partner, was the driving force behind the Resthill installation. Each GreenTower ESS is professionally designed and signed off by a registered professional engineer, ensuring quality, safety, and reliability. Their systems include high-efficiency inverters, lithium batteries, top-tier solar modules, smart controllers, and comprehensive protection With the high cost of unreliable power in South Africa, rural and agricultural businesses continue to face growing energy challenges. From rolling blackouts and Eskom’s rising tariffs to failing infrastructure like fallen poles, dysfunctional transformers, and substations on fire, the cost of staying connected is becoming unsustainable. Generators are often the go-to backup, but diesel is expensive and maintenance-heavy, chipping away at already tight margins. Amidst these challenges, solar power coupled with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) offers a transformative solution. Not only can it stabilise power supply, but it also significantly reduces long-term operational costs. What about the high capital outlay, however? That’s where innovative financing options, like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), come in. Case study Resthill Memory Care’s journey to energy security Resthill Memory Care, a dementia care facility in a semi-rural setting, struggled with power disruptions and unsustainable diesel bills. Their journey began modestly: installing a smaller GreenTower ESS from Ordiphase on a monthly subscription plan. The results were immediate. In the first full month alone, the system enabled Resthill to operate 36% off-grid. Generator runtime dropped dramatically, diesel costs fell, and the savings matched the monthly subscription cost. Encouraged by this success, Resthill made Fromdiesel drains to solar gains: how one care facility is powering ahead off-grid www.agribonus.co.za Winter 2025 BONUS 59