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Off-grid Reggae Studio – Creative freedom with its own energy solution

|22/09, 2020

Off-grid Reggae Studio – Creative freedom with its own energy solution

Discover how a music studio was built completely off-grid with solar panels, battery storage, and smart energy management – an inspiring solution that combines sustainable technology with creativity and independence.

The Swiss musician and songwriter Dodo is currently working on his new album – 2,500 meters above sea level in the Grimselpass, in the heart of the spectacular Swiss Alps.

With the help of a solar-powered mobile studio, Dodo and co-producer Marco “Big J” Jeger can create music in total freedom, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

From sea plans to mountain peaks

The plan for the year was actually to load the studio onto a boat bound for South Africa and play concerts in ports along the way.
COVID-19 put a stop to that – but opened a new door. Now, Dodo is instead following the Rhine River through the Alps, recording music along the way and waiting in Basel for restrictions to ease.

A studio with high demands

Dodo's mobile studio is packed with power-hungry equipment:

  • Mixers, amplifiers, and monitors from Universal Audio
  • Behringer Mixing and Distribution Amp
  • Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol
  • Genelec speakers
  • Apple TV, Mac, and a 49” curved Samsung screen
  • Professional lighting and air conditioning

To power all of this, 21 solar panels of 300 W each (total 6.3 kWp) and an EasySolar 48/5000/70-100 are used, combining an MPPT charger, inverter/charger, and communication hub (CCGX).
The system monitors the batteries (9 kWh) and prioritizes charging from the solar panels. The backup generator has only needed to be used twice!

Full control – wherever you are

The CCGX makes all system data available via the display and provides remote access via the Victron Remote Management Portal (VRM).
If the load becomes too high, live data is automatically paused to protect the system.

The music continues

Although the Africa plan had to be canceled, Dodo is making the best of the situation. His latest single “Türe gaht uf” is a calypso/reggae reflection that when one door closes, another opens.
The album will be released next spring – and the next stop for the studio is Furkapass.

Victron Energy provides the power behind Dodo's off-grid studio. We wish him good luck and look forward to new musical highlights!