Projects

Application: Security and Instrumentation  
Location: Western Province, Kafue National Park in Zambia, East Africa
Product: TriStar MPPT 45 and Ethernet MeterBus Converter 1
System size: 2,560W per site (four sites), with battery backup
Partners: World Wildlife Fund, Techlink Ltd, Rolls Battery, Suntech Power

Kafue National Park is the oldest and largest of Zambia’s national parks. Interest in the park’s Safari Camp and lodging is leading to more visitors and increased sustainable power needs. Morningstar worked with installer Techlink and the World Wildlife Fund to create four solar sites, each complete with two Rolls Battery maintenance-free AGM-VRLA S12-220AE batteries and two Suntech STP320-24/Vem solar panels. The sites also include Morningstar’s TriStar MPPT 45 and Ethernet MeterBus Converter 1.

The national park has virgin bush and rocky islands. The equipment is rugged enough to withstand the park’s temperature variations (9°C to 40°C, or ~48°F to 104°F), humidity fluctuations between 20% and 95% and insects/wildlife.

Application: Residential
Location: Mexico
Product: TriStar MPPT 60, 600V
System size: 15-kW gas generator and 29.7 kW of solar with lead-acid 48-VDC, 3,500 Ah battery
Partners: OutBack Power

Morningstar and OutBack Power’s solar and storage installations electrified remote homes in Mexico. Because the solar array was so large, the team found it was easier and less expensive to install in 600V. The Morningstar equipment, along with two 8-kW OutBack Radian GS8048 inverters, worked with the solar to power water pumps, TVs, fans and lighting.

Application: Hydro
Year: 2017
Product: TriStar PWM
System size: 0.30-kW, 24-V turbine with 24-V battery

One way to make use of extra energy from solar, a turbine or other energy source is to divert it to a hot water system. The Morningstar TriStar PWM features diversion mode to easily accomplish this and make the most of excess power.

Application: Hydro
Location: Scotland
Year: 2017
Product: TriStar PWM and MPPT
System size: 2.70-kW, 24-V, 3 Turgos turbines with 24-V battery bank

Morningstar’s PWM solar charge controller features a diversion mode for managing battery charging by diverting energy from a hydro source the battery to a dedicated diversion load. Excess energy diverts from a primary battery to a secondary battery or alternate DC resistive load to protect against battery overcharge. The PWM reduces power into diversion load during overcurrent conditions.

Application: Security and Instrumentation
Location: Caurimare, Caracas, Venezuela
Year: 2017
Product: ProStar 30
System size: 275-W solar panel and two 155-Ah, 12-V sealed batteries
Partners include: Luis Raygada

This building surveillance and lighting features the Morningstar ProStar 30, along with a 275-W, 72-cell solar panel along with four LED lights and a USB charger.

Application: Rural Electrification
Location: Fiji
Year: 2015 through 2021
Product: SunSaver SS20/12L and SureSine Inverter SI300-220V
System size: 280-W of solar with AGM deep-cycle, 12-V, 200-Ah battery per system (1,000 sites)
Partners include: CBS Power Solutions, Powerlite

The Fiji Electricity Authority’s (FEA) rural electrification project will bring power to every Fiji household by 2021. Partners CBS Power Solutions and Powerlite chose Morningstar’s SunSavers and SureSines because they can withstand harsh tropical conditions and come with a warranty that exceeds requirements. Morningstar’s superior quality, easy installation, backup support and after-sales service were also considerations for selection. Both the Fiji government and FEA have heavily invested to extend the national grid to access remote communities and settlements.

Application: Residential
Location:  San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Year: 1997
Product: SunSaver 10
System size: Single solar panel with 100-Ah deep cycle battery

Installers working on a rural solar and storage installation at the Ayllu de Quitor lodging facility in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile chose Morningstar’s SunSaver 10 controller for its reliability. Even after more than 20 years, the controller is still working and helping to power a system that powers lights, radio and television.

Application: Residential
Location: Uribia, La Uribe, Aguachica and Cartagena del Charia, Colombia
Product: ProStar MPPT 40, TriStar MPPT 30 and TriStar MPPT 45
System size: Between 765 and 4,590 W of solar per site with 205 Ah in 24V to 900 Ah in 48V batteries (1,086 homes and 10 schools)

Morningstar helped power 1,086 homes and 10 schools in Columbia. The project included 133 home installations in desert or marine environments, 773 homes in the mountains and 180 homes and 10 schools in the jungle.

Solar (765W) and batteries (205 Ah in 24V) powered homes. Schools varied by type: Type 1 schools had 1,530 W with 300 Ah in 48-V batteries; Type 2 schools had 3,060 W with 600 Ah in 48-V batteries; Type 3 schools had 4,590 W with 900 Ah in 48-V batteries.

Morningstar products offered a good MPPT algorithm with a robust design and dissipation without needing cooling fans. Morningstar’s five-year warranty and excellent after-sales attention also helped make this project a success.

Application: Telecom
Location: United States
Product: TriStar MPPT 60
System size: Solar panel and diesel generator (four sites)
Partners include: Motive Energy, EnerSys, Emerson

Motive Energy installed solar, a diesel generator, two 1,500-Ah EnerSys deep-cycle battery strings, eight Emerson NetSure 502 power plant 30-A inverter chargers and TriStar MPPT 60 controllers for four outdoor remote locations without access to commercial power.