Progressive solar innovation powered by Audi Centre Centurion
Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2022
Electrical Power & Protection
Audi Centre Centurion and SMA, together with ANH Technologies, have engaged in a sustainable and innovative partnership to transform power production and usage at the Audi dealership in Pretoria, Gauteng. The solar panel installation allows the dealership and its customers to use solar PV (photovoltaic) power for its electric vehicle charging and on-site power usage to support retail and servicing.
The future-focused initiative is installed on top of the roof space at Audi Centre Centurion. In total, 112 solar power panels have been installed, substantially reducing the dealership’s reliance on the power grid. Audi Centre Centurion’s Peter Preusse said, “In addition to providing energy support during peak loads and for consistent e-tron charging, this one-of-a-kind initiative underscores our commitment to driving energy transition and sustainability. It is an intelligent charging solution that uses smart systems and technology to provide the dealership with reliable and resilient power, reducing operational costs while accelerating the energy transition conversation in a relevant way.”
AHN Technologies implemented an in-depth energy audit at the premises and installed a range of SMA products and solutions to monitor the PV power provision and status. The system offers load management functionality to ensure measurable electricity cost savings. It also allows for the charging of four Audi e-tron vehicles, using AC and DC power at the same time, using solar power.
“Audi Centre Centurion can use up to 53 kW peak power for increased self-consumption and to store solar power in 67 kWh backup batteries to cater for high demand and peak times,” said Sascha Sauer, head of Audi South Africa. “It’s an incredibly progressive investment, not only in light of the move towards an electric future, but in terms of embedding sustainable energy provision and practices into the building setup and dealership operations.”
The initiative will use an holistic, single-source solution from SMA to ensure easy maintenance, service provision and reliability. In addition to the larger solar platforms installed on site, Audi Centre Centurion has included a smaller 8 kWp SMA Energy System Home that showcases how Audi e-tron customers can conveniently charge their new vehicles at their residence for free, using ideally matched components from a single source.
“This unique Audi e-tron solar charging initiative showcases the progressive approach taken by one of our Audi dealerships and ensures that customers can seamlessly shift towards a more holistic lifestyle and mobility solution. Well done to Audi Centre Centurion on progressing their journey towards sustainability and e-mobility,” concluded Sauer.
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