Case study: APEX solution solves regulatory and complex inverter challenges
Published
7.9.2024
When UV Tooling needed a backup power solution to keep its production facility running during loadshedding, Rubicon supplied a solar battery energy storage system (BESS) containerised solution. The APEX microgrid controller (MCS) plays a central role in the system, ensuring seamless transitions between grid and backup power, offering remote monitoring functionality, and prioritising cost savings.
Rubicon’s supplier, UV Tooling – a tool-making and plastics moulding company – needed a backup power solution to keep their production facility running during loadshedding. The company was experiencing manufacturing delays due to the extensive power outages and this was having a negative impact on their business.
Rubicon designed and custom-built a cutting-edge BESS containerised solution for UV Tooling. The solution provides an impressive 250kW backup power with 290kWh battery capacity.
The containerised system is manufactured and commissioned off-site by Rubicon, to simplify the role of installers on site, once the container is placed. The state-of-the-art container is temperature controlled to ensure an optimal environment for the hardware to operate in and includes advanced features like fire protection and seamless plug-and-play functionality.
With WeCo batteries, an Atess battery inverter, and the APEX MCS microgrid controller – this solution ensures a seamless transition from grid power to backup power during loadshedding. The container can also be integrated with a generator.
APEX MCS: The most important component of this solution is the APEX MCS – the brain of the system. The APEX MCS allows for complete control over the system, enabling it to function optimally during loadshedding.
This unique device can be customised according to the requirements of a specific application. Importantly, the APEX MCS allows for remote monitoring and control of a system, eliminating the need for changes to be made on site.
The APEX controller can be set to prioritise cost-savings by using the energy which costs the least first, namely solar, followed by batteries, and then the grid. Thanks to the APEX controller, the building experiences seamless changeovers between the different power sources, allowing the UV Tooling production facility to continue running uninterrupted.
The APEX MCS was designed and built by Rubicon to fit South Africa’s power environment with its unique electrical grid, loadshedding outages, and range of electricity tariffs. Therefore, a vital function of the APEX MCS is that it allows the system to use solar power during loadshedding. In most grid-tied solar systems, the solar needs a grid reference to operate. The APEX MCS provides the batteries (or a generator) as a grid reference which allows the solar system to function even when the grid is down during loadshedding or other power outages.
The APEX MCS can function as a standalone product or be integrated with new or existing energy systems that require energy management and control.
APEX products are continuously being developed and improved. Customers will have more control over future versions of the APEX MCS – being able to mitigate and solve problems themselves before reaching out for support.
Rubicon uses the APEX MCS to monitor the UV Tooling containerised BESS solution remotely to ensure that it’s operating optimally at all times. UV Tooling can request support through the APEX website if they require additional support or would like to modify the way the solution operates. Rubicon’s technical team and engineers are on standby to assist.
UV Tooling has been able to run its production facility without interruptions since the containerised battery energy storage system was installed at its site in September 2023.
Ruedi Vogeli, Operations Manager at UV Tooling, says: “Our business is able to run at full capacity, we’re very happy with the system, and we had the best months. We’re already planning the expansion of our containerised energy solution”
