Engen is in the final stages of preparations to launch a project that will replace traditional electric pump installations at client’s industrial machinery fuel dispensers with solar and battery backup solutions.

Itumeleng Motsopa, Strategic Project Manager at Engen, said the company has developed modular units from converted 12-metre shipping containers equipped with solar panels. “Our standard units come with 30 panels but they can be customised in various sizes – small, medium and large – to meet the specific needs of different customers and site conditions. We can even laminate the interiors to enhance functionality.”

Engen plans to install these units in remote areas in future.

Motsopa highlights that the sizing of the units and the number of solar panels required is determined through data collected from loggers over a period of one to two months. This data helps assess the energy consumption profiles of the pumps and canopy lights. “Based on these insights, our installation team can design the units accordingly,” he explains.

Batteries ensure uninterrupted operation – even at night when solar energy is not available. The units remain connected to the national electricity grid for backup power when sunlight is insufficient. “The batteries can typically power operations for about eight hours. If an outage is longer, we rely on Eskom power. When there is ample sunlight, we can also contribute surplus energy to the grid,” Motsopa noted.

To enhance reliability and maintain optimal operating conditions, the batteries are oversized and the containers have air-conditioning units.

A standard shipping container requires ample land for effective installation and operation. “The 12 metre containers need sufficient space for manoeuvrability to prevent collisions with other equipment and to ensure enough room for trucks and heavy vehicles accessing the site,” Motsopa pointed out.