Stand-alone renewable power solutions

SES recently designed and built six custom 20kVA transformers (SD8027) for an off-grid solar pilot program in Western Australia that involved Western Power, AGL, and Positive Off-Grid Solutions.

The concept: provide power more efficiently and effectively to remote locations such as rural communities, farms, schools, mines, worksites etc.

The solution: Self-contained solar and battery systems, that can be dropped anywhere and begin producing and providing electricity. The entire system stored within a standard shipping container, with foldable solar panels easily deployable, the system can be transported anywhere, dropped into position and begin supplying power immediately.

The transformer challenge: The challenge was keeping the size AND temperature rise of the transformer to a minimum. Given the limited and valuable space within the shipping container, size had to be kept to a minimum. And then given that these systems would be being dropped in very hot conditions (45+ ambient temperatures), keeping everything as cool as possible was paramount. Reliability was obviously another requirement – placed in the middle of nowhere meant no quick fixes if something was to go wrong.

Using grain-oriented (GO) steel for the core, and making the transformer tall and lean, we managed to maximise the natural cooling while minimizing the physical footprint of the transformer.

The result: our SD8027 units were unbelievable. The test results were spot on, and the watts lost figures were incredibly low, thanks to the GO steel and slim, tall design. Even in a metal container in the sweltering WA outback these SD8027 units will run perfectly and run cool for many, many years.