Monet Series Hybrid Inverter Deployment in Southern UK Food Processing Plant

Monet Series Hybrid Inverter Deployment in Southern UK Food Processing Plant

Project Title:
Reliable Solar + Storage Integration for Food Cold Chain Operations

Location:
A medium-sized food processing and cold storage facility in Hampshire, Southern United Kingdom.

Timeline:
System Design & Planning: Q3 2022
Installation & Commissioning: Q4 2022 – Q1 2023
Operational Since: February 2023

Background & Challenge
The facility operates 24/7, with critical refrigeration loads and processing equipment requiring stable, high-quality power. Rising energy costs and sustainability goals prompted the management to seek an integrated solar and battery storage solution. Key challenges included:

• Grid Dependency: High peak-time tariffs and concerns over occasional grid instability affecting sensitive cooling systems.

• Energy Cost Reduction: Need to maximize self-consumption of on-site solar generation and reduce demand charges.

• Power Quality Requirement: Processing machinery and control systems required clean power with low harmonic distortion.

• Space & Environment Constraints: Equipment needed to be housed both indoors (electrical room) and outdoors, requiring appropriate environmental protection.

Solution Selected
After technical evaluation, the Monet-250TS hybrid inverter system was chosen as the core power conversion and management unit for this project. The decision was based on the following matching specifications from the data sheet:

• Power Capacity: The plant's calculated critical load and solar PV array capacity aligned perfectly with the Monet-250TS's rated AC power of 250/275kW.

• DC Input Flexibility: The "Adaptive battery" support for lithium/lead-acid and integrated MPPT for solar panels allowed the seamless integration of a new 300kWp PV array with an existing 500kWh lithium-ion battery bank.

• Grid Interaction: The unit's on-grid capability (THDi <3%, Power Factor range -1 to +1) ensured efficient, grid-compliant feed-in during low consumption periods. Its off-grid functionality with rated 400Vac/50Hz output and overload capacity (120% for 1 minute) provided a reliable backup source for essential cold storage loads during planned maintenance or unexpected outages.

• Rugged Design: The specification for IP55 (Outdoor) protection level was crucial as the inverter cabinet was installed in a dedicated, partially sheltered yard area. The ambient temperature range (-25℃ to +60℃) and altitude rating (3000m) were more than adequate for the UK's temperate climate and low altitude.

• Safety & Compliance: The listed certificates, including EN 61000-6-1/2/3, IEC 62477-1:2012, and IEC 62116, confirmed compliance with essential EU and international safety, EMC, and grid-connection standards, simplifying the permitting process in the UK.

• Communication: The available RS485/CAN/Ethernet interfaces enabled straightforward integration with the plant's existing energy management system (EMS) for monitoring, control, and data logging.

Implementation Highlights

• Two Monet-250TS units were configured in parallel to meet the total system power requirement.

• The outdoor-rated cabinets (dimensions: 1350*1000*2100mm) were installed on concrete pads, minimizing indoor space usage.

• The internal isolation transformer ensured safe separation between the DC/battery side and the AC load/grid side, enhancing system safety.

• The communication ports were connected via Ethernet to the facility's SCADA system for real-time performance dashboards.

Results & Benefits

• Energy Savings: Achieved over 40% reduction in grid electricity consumption during daylight hours via solar self-consumption.

• Demand Charge Management: The battery system, managed by the inverter's algorithms, successfully shaves peak loads, reducing monthly capacity charges.

• Enhanced Resilience: The system has provided seamless backup power during two brief grid disturbances, maintaining uninterrupted operation of critical refrigeration units.

• Power Quality: Measured THDi at the main distribution panel remained below 2.5%, improving the power environment for sensitive equipment.

• Sustainability: The project significantly reduced the facility's carbon footprint and supports its corporate sustainability reporting.

Conclusion
The deployment of the Monet-250TS hybrid inverter system has proven to be a robust, efficient, and compliant solution for the food processing plant's dual goals of economic operation and energy resilience. Its technical specifications as per the data sheet directly addressed the site's requirements for power rating, environmental adaptability, grid interaction, and safety standards. This case demonstrates the product's suitability for commercial and industrial applications in regions with developed regulatory frameworks like the European Union/UK, where performance, safety certification, and grid code compliance are paramount.