Global battery brand Duracell has officially entered the South African renewable energy market with the launch of Duracell Energy, offering a suite of smart residential energy solutions. This marks the company’s expansion into solar and battery storage systems.

At the official launch event, held yesterday in Johannesburg, Duracell Sales Manager for Africa, Dylan Murray, introduced the new product lineup in partnership with technology distributor Axiz. These products, which form part of a smart home ecosystem, are designed to integrate with PV systems.

By the end of 2024, Duracell Energy will roll out two new products in South Africa: the Dura-i inverter and the Duracell EV charger. These will complement the Dura 5 battery, which was introduced earlier this year. Together, these components form an integrated system that can operate as a hybrid or off-grid solution, combining grid power, solar energy, and battery storage.

“This can be a hybrid system using grid power, solar power and battery storage, or a totally off-grid system,” said Murray.

The 6 kW Dura-i inverter is designed for residential use and comes with a 10-year warranty. Rated with an IP65 certification, the inverter is suitable for outdoor use, featuring two maximum power point trackers and supporting input up to 9 kW. The system is compatible with any lithium-ion batteries. “Users can set the depth of discharge for the batteries connected, and the system can be monitored from anywhere using the Duracell app,” Murray said. The modular inverter can handle up to 25 kW of storage.

The Dura 5+ home battery is a new addition to the South African market. It comes with a 10-year or 10 000-cycle warranty with a 90% depth of discharge. Murray emphasised the product’s longevity, noting that it offers “three times the lifespan of competitors”.

The 1C-rated battery is scalable and weatherproof. It features an integrated breaker and isolator for safety. The smart system automatically balances itself when more than one battery is connected, ensuring that all batteries in the system are in the same state of charge.

Duracell’s 7,4 kW electric vehicle charger allows homeowners to charge their EVs using surplus solar energy. The charger, which features an IP55 rating and a three-year warranty, includes a four-meter cable. The Duracell app can track statistics and provide insights on energy consumption, savings, and tariff optimisation through its weather monitoring features.

While the Dura 5 battery has already been released, the Dura-i inverter and the EV charger will be available in November.

The inverter or battery will cost upwards of R21 000, excluding VAT and shipping. “We are not competing on price. We are marketing to clients who are looking for a high quality, long-lasting product,” said Murray.

Duracell’s foray into the South African renewable energy market has taken longer than some of its competitors, but Murray attributed the delay to rigorous product testing. “We’ve taken the time to ensure that our products meet the highest standards of quality and durability.”

There are plans for the introduction of commercial and industrial high-voltage products in March 2025, he added.