Remote agricultural sites often lack reliable grid access and depend on diesel generators despite having abundant solar resources. A DC-coupled solar-storage microgrid can improve on-site renewable energy utilization while providing stable power for irrigation, pumping, and other agricultural loads.
Building an Autonomous and Stable Green Energy System for Off-Grid Agricultural Settings
In some agricultural regions of Africa, farmlands, irrigation stations, and agricultural product processing sites are located far from the public grid. Due to insufficient power infrastructure coverage, agricultural production has long relied on diesel-powered generators.
Diesel-powered electricity not only entails high fuel transportation and maintenance costs but is also highly susceptible to fuel supply fluctuations, making it difficult to meet the demands of continuous agricultural production. At the same time, while local solar resources are abundant, the lack of energy storage and smart control systems means that photovoltaic power generation is significantly affected by diurnal variations, limiting energy utilization efficiency.
For remote agricultural settings, YUNT offers a DC-coupled solar-storage microgrid solution. Through the deep integration of photovoltaic systems, energy storage, and smart control systems, this solution enables the on-site production and utilization of clean energy, providing a continuous and stable power supply for agricultural production.
Scenario Requirements: Meeting Energy Needs for Continuous Agricultural Production
Agricultural settings typically have the following characteristics:
- Remote locations far from the public power grid;
- Long operating hours for loads such as irrigation equipment and electric motors;
- Significant diurnal variations in electricity consumption;
- Limited O&M resources and high demands on system reliability.
The project aims to:
- Improve the utilization rate of photovoltaic energy;
- Ensure continuous operation of irrigation and agricultural equipment;
- Reduce reliance on diesel-powered generators;
- Reduce on-site maintenance workload.
Compared to traditional diesel power supply, agricultural users have a greater need for independent energy systems capable of long-term, stable operation.
System Solution: DC Coupling to Improve Energy Utilization Efficiency
YUNT provides integrated photovoltaic-storage microgrid solutions tailored to agricultural needs, covering equipment selection, system integration, and optimization of operational strategies.
Project Configuration:
- 125 kW / 215 kWh energy storage system;
- Grid-forming power conversion system(PCS)
- PV MPPT system;
- Agriculture-specific EMS energy management platform.
The project employs a DC-coupled architecture, allowing PV power to be fed directly into the energy storage system. This eliminates the multi-stage energy conversion found in traditional AC solutions, thereby improving the system’s overall operational efficiency.
The EMS automatically optimizes energy dispatch based on PV generation and load demand:
During daytime operation:
- PV power is prioritized to supply agricultural loads;
- Excess electricity is stored in the energy storage system;
- Increasing the proportion of self-generated and self-consumed renewable energy.
At night or during cloudy or rainy weather:
- The energy storage system continuously discharges electricity;
- Ensure the stable operation of irrigation systems, water pumps, and agricultural equipment;
- If necessary, backup power sources can be activated to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
At the same time, the equipment is specifically designed to withstand outdoor environments in Africa—such as high temperatures and dusty conditions—to meet the requirements for long-term unattended operation.
Project Value: Enhancing Agricultural Energy Self-Sufficiency
Through the DC-coupled photovoltaic-storage microgrid system, the project helps clients reduce their reliance on diesel generators and the utility grid, improves the efficiency of renewable energy utilization, and provides a more stable and cost-effective energy supply for agricultural production.
The solution not only improves power supply reliability in agricultural settings but also reduces energy operating costs and maintenance workloads, providing a more flexible energy solution for agricultural modernization in remote areas.
This project fully demonstrates YUNT’s technical capabilities in energy storage system design, off-grid microgrids, DC-coupled systems, and system integration for agricultural applications, and can be widely applied to farmland irrigation, agricultural parks, livestock breeding bases, and other remote agricultural production scenarios.
