Eleven sites now run mostly on sunshine

Three years ago every Vertex site ran its generator whenever the grid was off, which in some areas meant most nights. Today eleven of our sixteen sites run mostly on solar panels and batteries, with the generator as a backup for cloudy weeks.

What changed

We fitted arrays sized to each site’s load, lithium battery banks that carry the site through the night, and a controller that only starts the generator when the battery drops below 40%.

What it saved

Across the eleven sites, generator hours fell by an average of 61%. That is less diesel bought, fewer fuel runs on busy roads, and much quieter nights for neighbours.

What it means for tenants

The solar hybrid power package costs less per kilowatt than grid and generator, and the saving is passed on in the monthly rate.

What is next

Three more sites move to hybrid before the next rainy season. The remaining two are rooftops without space for panels, where batteries alone will cut generator hours.