Projects

Gijsels BV are a prominent Generator Hire company in Belgium who have built their business over twenty years by supplying reliable gensets – usually in the 20kVA – 600kVA range – immediately from stock.

Part of their success is a rigorous testing regime – before supply, and on return – during which the units are run under load for an hour to ensure they are performing satisfactorily.

Until recently all the electricity generated during load-testing was dissipated as heat by a ‘resistance’ bank.  Elias Gijsels – the son of the company’s owner – happened to be working on a sustainability project at school and suggested the test-energy was stored and used to run the workshop and offices. He helped design and install a system – which includes a PV array – which allows the company to be power self-sufficient.

In order to comply with the National Grid power regulations in Belgium, we advised and supplied the system components – incorporated a Break before Make transfer switch as seen on the system schematic below. This ensures that the private power system will not become grid-connected.
The three phase system employs 3 x Quattro 15kVA Inverter Chargers together with Pylontech storage and is controlled by a Cerbo GX. Also in the build:

• Lynx distibutors
• US2000 Pylontech batteries 32 modules + 1 communication hub
• PV active on the public grid (AC 6 kW)
• PV active on the energy system ( AC SMA 15 kW)
• Transferswitch 80A

Read the full article here.

A sea container was converted into a mobile modular classroom to give underprivileged children the opportunity to attend school. Electricity is not readily available in all France, so an off-grid system was required.

The container was equipped with LED lighting, an LED screen, 20 laptops and air conditioning. 12 Q Cells solar panels were installed on top of the container. We delivered 2 Victron Energy inverter/chargers Multiplus 48/3000, a Color Control GX to control and monitor the entire system, 1 solar charger MPPT 250/100 VE.CAN and 4 HE batteries 300A by MG Energy. We also provided all the necessary cabling and programmed the entire system in advance to ensure easy installation.

Installer Tequiero contacted us for a large solar installation with battery storage for a residential property. It was decided to go for a semi off-grid installation. This allows the customer to operate completely off-grid about 9 months of the year. The grid is switched on in winter when not enough solar power is available. Our transfer switch does this automatically without affecting any of the electrical appliances. This also means that no solar energy is fed back into the grid.

We installed 27 solar panels with a power output of 375 Wp in different places and with different orientations. This meant that 10 different MPPT 150/70 solar chargers were needed. These MPPTs with a VE.CAN protocol are easy to interconnect with RJ45 cables, so they can be monitored individually or as a whole. The solar panels are controlled and monitored with a Color Control GX. A Multiplus II 48/5000 inverter/charger was used. 24 2V gel batteries were installed, offering a total capacity of 68 kWh. We programmed the devices in advance and provided all the necessary customised cabling to ensure a quick and easy installation.

Eco-project turned to us for the creation of an entire off-grid installation to charge an electric vehicle. The end consumer was looking to charge his car using a maximum of green energy. 

Twenty-four 335W solar panels were installed on the carport. We supplied the battery system with 19.8kWh lithium batteries by Pylontech. In addition we delivered two Smart MPPT 250/70 solar chargers, three Phoenix 48/5000 inverters in a three-phase configuration and the Color Control GX system by Victron Energy.     

We were entrusted with the professional commissioning, giving us the opportunity to see the system in operation. 

Electrical engineering firm Elektrotechniek Hoogewys contacted us for an energy system in an off-grid music container. This container will be set up in various woodland areas. The container is made of glass, which enables passers-by to enjoy the view, with a classical concert by Sohnarr in the background. This should enable them to really chill out.

For this project, we supplied 2 x 360W solar panels with MPPT solar charger 150/35, a Phoenix DC/AC inverter 24/250 and 2 lithium superpacks of 250Ah each. The batteries can also be charged with a separate 24/16 battery charger when there is not enough sun. This can be monitored with a battery monitor. Elektrotechniek Hoogewys took care of the professional installation.

The Sjel will start operating in the Grote Netewoud in Geel, and will move to various natural beauty spots over the next few months.

Bollé Bollé (a non-profit organisation operating in Tanzania) recently completed the installation of 3 off-grid energy systems in Tanzania. For the 2 schools and 1 hospital, Ysebaert supplied the Victron Energy charger/inverters, MPPT chargers, solar batteries and the necessary installation equipment and materials. The local installation was carried out entirely by volunteers from Bollé Bollé with the assistance of local workers. The result is worth looking at (in the photos).

Bollé Bollé has set up a separate page devoted to the Solar for Igunga project on its website: https://www.bollebolle.be/solar/.

The aim of these projects is to guarantee the safety of children at school and patients in hospital. In addition, it is intended to familiarise the local population with the benefits of sustainable solar energy so that this can be implemented elsewhere in the district at a later stage.

System components: 

• Victron Energy Quatro 48/5000, Quatro 48/15000 en Quatro 48/10000 
• MPPT-charger 25/100 
• Solar battery A600 2V 
• Color control GX 
• Lynx Shunt VE.CAN 
• Lynx distributor 
• Installation material

Theatre company Cie des 4 Saisons has developed a fully-automated dragon for their latest production, measuring 7 metres tall and 12 metres long. They have been working on their dragon, called 'Josephine', for the last 2 years. The dragon was designed to move, talk and puff out smoke! The entire structure is built around the forklift truck used as its skeleton.  

They asked us to advise on their energy system. We supplied 3 Lithium Smart 24V/200Ah batteries, a Skylla-TG 24/100 battery charger and BMS. This enabled them to control a hydraulic pump, allowing the dragon's neck and head to move, as well as giving it the ability to puff smoke.  

The new show tells the story of a dragon that fell asleep during the Middle Ages and woke up in our era, when everything has changed a lot. The show deals with themes such as the environmental transition and transgenders. The dragon identifies more as a woman than a man, and asks whether her name can be changed to Josephine. 

We think that the result has been a great success! 

System components: 

• Lithium Smart battery 24V/200Ah 
• Skylla-TG 24/100 battery charger  
• BMS 
• Smart battery protect 220A 
• Installation material 

Bus manufacturer Van Hool has built 2 new medical buses for Idewe (external workplace health and safety service).

To minimise the need for employees to travel, this vehicle visits firms to carry out mandatory medical examinations.

Many of the locations visited lack a suitable power supply, and so the bus needs to be able to operate totally autonomously for 8 hours. In the past, a generator would often have been required, but with today's energy technologies, a cleaner, more efficient energy supply is possible.

In collaboration with Van Hool's engineering design office, we developed a modern energy system with lithium batteries, solar panels and inverter/chargers. Keeping the weight down was a major requirement. 

Each medical vehicle has its own energy supply, equipped with:

• 2 x Quattro 5000VA inverter/chargers;
• 6 x Lithium NMC batteries providing a total of 30 kWh, and weighing just 172 kg;
• DC distribution system with built-in BMS;
• 1080 Wp solar panels with MPPT 60A charge controller; 
• Battery to Battery charger to ensure controlled charging of the lithium battery via the alternator while driving;
• Intelligent energy management with remote monitoring.

The combination of various energy sources (solar, alternator, battery and mains power) guarantees an efficient hybrid power supply.