South Africa's largest off-grid solar power plant secures irrigation for pecan nut cultivation

Hartswater-farm solves unstable grid problem by installing a 270 kVA solar power system with battery storage and smart control for continuous irrigation.

An 180-hectare pecan nut farm in Hartswater, South Africa has solved its irrigation problem overnight by installing the region's largest off-grid low-voltage solar power system.

The problem was not access to water – 1200 km of canals from the Vaalharts irrigation system supply the necessary water. The challenge lay in the unstable power grid with recurring power outages and overload. When power is lost, water supplies are lost, leading to financial losses and the risk of crop damage.

Two separate systems provide 270 kVA of power

Hartswater Pecan Plant invested in private energy supply with the help of Ecotrades Solar Power Systems. The solution consists of two separate infrastructures to avoid voltage drop in the 4.5 km long cable network.

The system was pre-installed in four insulated, air-conditioned containers – two for battery banks and two for inverters – before transport to the site with Ecotrades' own crane trucks.

Heavy busbar system for battery balance

The installation includes 336 batteries that require identical cable lengths for proper balance. The solution was an ergonomic battery arrangement with heavy busbars (100 mm wide, 10 mm thick).

System Components

• 18 Quattro inverter/chargers of 15 kVA each – total 270 kVA
• 50 SmartSolar MPPT charge controllers 250/100 VE.Can
• 12 Fronius Eco 27 kW three-phase inverters
• 336 SolarMD SS202 7.4 kWh lithium batteries – total 2.5 MWh
• 1680 Longi solar panels (430 Wp) – total 722 kWp
• 2 Cummins diesel generators of 200 kVA each
• 9 transformers for voltage adaptation
• 2 Cerbo GX for system monitoring and control

Remote monitoring and performance

The system is monitored via Victron Remote Management (VRM), enabling real-time analysis of energy flows and historical data for optimization.

Results and benefits

The new solar power system eliminates dependence on an unstable power grid, secures the irrigation schedule, and maximizes the harvest. The investment is expected to inspire more farmers in the region to choose sustainable, private energy supply.