A Solar Hybrid Power system has been installed by Majid Al Futtaim Communities in Dubai, part of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, at the Tilal Al Ghaf mixed-use development office.
The solar-diesel hybrid system will supply nearly two-thirds of the predicted total annual power requirement of 169,965 kWh of Tilal Al Ghaf office in the form of solar energy, with the remaining 32 percent met by diesel generators, the company said in a press statement.
The Solar Hybrid system, consisting of 133 solar panels, 150 Li-ion battery packs, and a DC inverter of 116 kWh will supply power to the Office as well as nearby offices and storage buildings.
The new system will reduce the Office’s carbon footprint to 222 metric tons over 12 months. This is equivalent to powering almost ten homes with electricity every year. This is a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by fuel savings alone.
The statement said that the hybrid system is expected to deliver more than 56 percent annual cost savings over the diesel-powered system it has replaced.
A hybrid system is when your solar panels remain connected to the grid’s power lines and have a backup battery system to store excess power. The sun’s energy absorbed by the solar panels goes through an inverter to create usable electricity. From there, electricity either goes to your home, to your battery, or to the grid.
The benefit of a hybrid solar system is that you will always have power in any situation. With a backup battery the excess energy that your solar panels create (but your organisation does not use), will be stored in this battery. Then, when the sun is not shining, this battery will provide your power during the night, system blackouts, or inclement weather.