Case Study
A back-up solution for council irrigation system
HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT
The Federation Walk Coastal Reserve and Parklands in Gold Coast, Australia is a breathtaking stretch of coastal landscape that offers visitors a unique combination of natural splendour and recreational activities. The Gold Coast City Council manages an off-grid irrigation system at the Spit that is used to water the plants in the parkland. This system requires a diesel generator to run continuously to power the irrigation system and the Rain Bird sprinkler controller. In an effort to minimize its environmental impact and reduce operating costs, the Gold Coast City Council approached Redx™ Technology for a renewable energy solution for the site.
PROBLEM ANALYSIS
In contrast to previous projects undertaken by the Redx™ team, this site was entirely off-grid, with the diesel generator serving as the sole power source available on-site. During the design phase of the project, the Redx™ team conducted a thorough analysis of the existing power consumption and infrastructure on-site, and identified the following challenges that required their focus in the solution:
- The Rain Bird sprinkler controller runs on standard household 240v AC.
- The diesel generator is the only power source for the Rain Bird sprinkler controller and the irrigation system.
- The roof structure of the service shed is suitable for solar panels.
- This site has poor 4G and Wi-Fi reception. It will be a challenge for Redx™ to control and monitor the device through their cloud platform.
SOLUTION
Redx™ has presented the Gold Coast city council with a solution that leverages their cutting-edge RX-2505PU uninterrupted power system, along with 4 x 415W solar PV panels. This complete office-grid power solution is compact and powerful. The dimensions of the RX-2505PU are only 600mm (W) x 900 (H) x 145mm (D) and the built-in 4.8kWh LiFePO4 battery can keep the Rain bird controller functioning for several days even without charging. Furthermore, The solar panels being proposed for the project boast a high conversion efficiency and durability, able to fully charge the RX-2505PU in just 4 hours on a sunny day.
Due to the RX-2505PU’s plug-and-play design, the installation process was seamless and only took a couple of technicians a few hours to complete. After installation, the power source for the Rain Bird sprinkler controller was switched to the RX-2505PU uninterrupted power system, allowing the diesel generator to remain idle and silent during periods when the pumps were not needed throughout the day.
To tackle the issue of remote monitoring and control of the unit, the Redx™ team strategically placed an industrial 3G modem router near the RX-2505PU. This modem router provides a stable Wi-Fi internet connection to the in-built datalogger through the 3G cellular network, enabling park management to continuously monitor the performance of the system 24 /7.
RESULTS
Since the implementation of the system, there has been a significant decrease in the operation time of the diesel generator, leading to a reduction in diesel consumption and noise pollution in the parkland. The Rain Bird controller now operates solely on renewable energy, and the performance of the off-grid power system can be monitored continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Redx™ Technology’s solution has resulted in remarkable improvements in energy stability, energy efficiency, and cost savings. The success of this project emphasizes the crucial role that off-grid energy storage systems can play in supporting IoT deployments in areas without grid connections.
Why should you go for this?
Save Money
Once you are done with the installation, the 2505PU off-grid energy system will supply all the electricity for your daily needs for your tiny homes, caravans, or remote sheds at 0 cost. And you don’t need to worry about the electricity supply charges and the growing electricity rates anymore. Our primary renewable sources are solar panels or wind turbines, which will never run out.
Apart from a meagre maintenance cost, your energy needs will be met for free. Solar panels have a life expectancy of at least 25-40 years before they reach their end of life.
Decentralised system
Have you ever wondered what it would look like if you could control your energy supply without any grid interference?
With our system, it is possible. A battery backup can help you to go entirely off the grid.
Off-grid systems are not only good if you are looking for an independent design but also the best solution for tiny homes.
You can shift your home freely without worrying about your electricity connections. It works perfectly fine if you live in a sunny area. Be self-reliant in your energy needs by choosing us.
Increase your property value
Renewable energy systems increase property value by at least 3-4%. This increase covers the cost you spent on the off-grid energy systems, making your property more lucrative. Return on investment is excellent if your property has this system.
It not only sells faster but on average, but it also gives you a better price as compared to a house running on conventional energy sources.
One tap system
Controlling your energy system becomes much easier with real-time energy consumption and production data.
The Redx Power™ portal helps you to manage your energy needs produced by your solar panels and reduce your dependence on the grid. You can monitor energy production in peak hours, the amount of stored energy and the demand of your loads.
In an off-grid system, this management becomes much more critical because you don’t have any grid to rely on. You can keep an eye on the amount of energy produced and stored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you need a battery?
When we depend on solar or wind power for energy production, there are peak production hours, and in some hours, you hardly see any energy production.
But you need a constant supply to run your house efficiently. So, a battery helps you to store surplus energy produced during peak hours and allows you to use that during the rest of the hours.
What happens when the grid goes down?
That’s where the need for a battery kicks in. Your house won’t run out of energy because your battery will take over and deliver power to your loads.
What size battery do I need?
It depends on your energy requirements, the number and needs of your electronic appliances and the size of your house.
Smaller houses can run on small units, while a bigger one needs a bigger energy storage unit.
Most households can run on a 2-5 kW inverter and 5-10kWh battery.
How can I monitor my battery?
Our Redx™ Energy Storage System is connected to the internet via Wi-fi or 4G; the device can be controlled and monitored remotely from anywhere. You can easily view real-time energy consumption and storage via the Redx Power™ portal or App.