Case Studies
1044kWh Solar-plus-Storage Project for a Large Cold Chain Warehouse in Cape Town, South Africa
An LVK 1044kWh C&I BESS with three 120kW MPPT controllers DC-coupled to a 1.2MW rooftop PV system, protecting Cape Town cold chain inventory from frequent national load-shedding blackouts.
Capacity
1044 kWh
Power
360 kW (3x 120kW MPPT)
Commissioning Time
Q3 2026
Battery Type
LiFePO4
Application Type
Solar-Plus-Storage Cold Chain UPS
Delivery Model
Turnkey EPC + EMS
Project Overview
Project Background
An LVK 1044kWh C&I BESS with three 120kW MPPT controllers DC-coupled to a 1.2MW rooftop PV system, protecting Cape Town cold chain inventory from frequent national load-shedding blackouts.
Customer Needs
South Africa is experiencing frequent, nationwide power rationing; sudden, hours-long blackouts occurring multiple times a day have become the norm. The facility stores high-value goods; if power outages cause the refrigeration units to shut down for extended periods, the entire inventory would be ruined. Relying solely on backup diesel generators entails prohibitively high fuel costs.
Application Focus
Solar-Plus-Storage Cold Chain UPS
Solution Design
Integrated ESS Design For Site Operations
To address the challenges of power rationing in South Africa, an LVK 1044kWh energy storage cabinet was installed, featuring a solar DC charging matrix composed of three 120kW MPPT controllers. The system functions as a high-efficiency, integrated solar-plus-storage UPS designed to prevent power-outage-related disruptions, prioritizing the safety of critical cold storage loads.
System Architecture
Coordinated Power Flow
1044 kWh BESS + 3x 120kW MPPT + 1.2 MW Rooftop PV (DC-coupled) + Anti-Load-Shedding EMS
DC
AC
Communication
Power Flow
Results & Benefits
Project Outcomes
Reduced the cold chain center's base electricity costs by 52%.
Eliminated approximately 7% in energy conversion losses typically associated with the PV-to-AC inverter followed by AC-to-DC rectification for charging process.
Successfully mitigated the risk of cold chain disruptions caused by frequent power outages in South Africa; the projected payback period (ROI) is 3.5 years.