Design and Implementation of a Solar Off-Grid Container Home

This project focuses on designing and implementing an off-grid solar power system tailored for a container home in Johannesburg, South Africa. The primary objective is to create a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective energy solution to address the region's frequent load shedding and high electricity costs. Johannesburg's high solar irradiance makes it an ideal location for solar energy utilisation. The system design includes a comprehensive site assessment, energy consumption analysis, and precise sizing of solar panels, batteries, inverters, and charge controllers to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Key components selected include high-efficiency monocrystalline solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, pure sine wave inverters, and MPPT charge controllers. The energy consumption analysis led to installing 18 solar panels and a battery bank capable of providing sufficient energy storage to meet daily needs and ensure an uninterrupted power supply during periods of low solar generation. Additionally, a rainwater harvesting system is integrated to enhance the overall sustainability of the container home. Advanced software tools such as SolariusPV, AutoCAD, and CODESYS were used for system design, 3D modelling, and control system programming. The project demonstrates significant environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption. The report concludes with recommendations for periodic maintenance, robust monitoring systems, energysaving practices, community education, and the exploration of additional backup power solutions to ensure the long-term efficiency and reliability of the solar power system.