Fuel Save Solution – Info Package

The SMA Fuel Save Solution is a smart, safe, flexible and easy way to save fuel and money. This page is an entry point for all of you who would like to save fuel and money in solar-diesel-hybrid-grids. Here you find information about what a Fuel Save Solution is, how to plan and use it and where in the world you can see the Fuel Save Solution in action. 

Have fun to read and learn about this amazing technology and feel free to ask whenever you need further infos.

St. Eustatius: 100 Percent Caribbean Solar Power

SMA Hybrid News

If you would like us to keep you up to date quarterly, please just use the form below to apply to our brand new SMA Hybrid News. It will be all about our solar-diesel-hybrid solutions with lots of technical articles, references we realized and information on how to design and commission our systems. Never miss important information and subscribe today! We look forward to welcome you to our newsletter 🙂

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Here you find the Newsletters up to now:

Edition 1 (March 2017)

What is a Fuel Save Solution?

 

Planning a Fuel Save Solution

Training on the Fuel Save Solution

 

Reports about Fuel Save Solutions

 

Awards

 

More information

You can find all of our blog posts on the Fuel Save Solutionhere. It is a great source of information if you are interested in saving fuel or planning to integrate solar energy into your grid.

Do you have comments or questions? Great! Just use the comment field below. We look forward to receiving your comments and we will answer each question as best as we can.

You can find even more details on the Fuel Save Solution Product Website.

If you would like our experts to help you lay out your own Fuel Save Solution, just send us an email at FuelSaveSolution@sma.de

This article was published in 2016. As we are constantly developing our solutions, there may be newer or additional options for the tips and techniques in this article.

23 Comments
  1. Naseeb
    Naseeb says:

    hello,
    I am designing a PV-Diesel hybrid system, and I want to generate a power from the PV panels that will cover a maximum load of 200 KW , with a generator of 350 KVA. The question is that Can I cover the maximum (or the whole) load demand from the PV share only and the generator only acts when the PV reduced due to cloud or other causes. Note that the system only runs from 7 a.m to 3 p.m.
    Can this be done if I install enough PV panels that produce 345.6 KW(at STC) ?
    Can fuel save controller do that ?
    and how much fuel save controller cost ?
    please help me I am confused.
    I would be thankful,

    Reply
    • Anke Baars
      Anke Baars says:

      Hi Naseeb,
      Thank you for your interest in our Hybrid Solution.
      I put you through to my colleague who will answer you directly.
      Kind regards,
      Anke

      Reply
  2. Christian Höhle
    Christian Höhle says:

    TH Energy did an independent performance analysis on the first year of operation of Sint Eustatius.

    Result: Excellent performance 😎

    • * Battery degradation less than expected (98.7% left)
    • * Excellent fuel savings (just 1.2% less than forecasted while 4.9% less irradiation because of “less sunny year”)
    • * 812 887 liters of fuel saved in just one year

    Find the full report here:
    https://goo.gl/LSQcL8

    Reply
  3. Dikibujiri Akinda
    Dikibujiri Akinda says:

    Thank you I am glad indeed for your information and integration.
    Regards
    Dikibujiri Akinda

    Reply
  4. Ray Furse
    Ray Furse says:

    Hi SMA,
    Here in the northwest corner of Connecticut, USA, we are wish to create small PV-generator backup microgrids for municipal buildings, hospitals, and schools, in preparations for extended outages that might result from severe weather events or even grid attacks. Eliminating battery storage (and cost) would be great. Is this technology appropriate for 20-200 kW systems? What parameters or requirements are there for interface, either on the generator side or the PV side? We are not one of the “sunny islands” (forgive the pun!) you use as examples, but we are taking about utilizing existing or planned grid-tied PV in emergency situations, to trim/reduce overall dependency on diesel.
    Best,
    Ray Furse
    Partner, Litchfield Hills Solar

    Reply
    • Christian Höhle
      Christian Höhle says:

      Hi Ray,

      the SMA Fuel Save Solution can help saving on fuel whenever a generator runs during sunlight hours.
      You describe a very interesting field of operation for a Fuel Save Solution as a power outage over longer periods would cause severe problems and fuel supply could become problematic. The SMA Fuel Save Solution could definitely reduce fuel consumption and extend the range of available fuel supplies.

      Technically, the Fuel Save Controller would work for solar systems up to 50MWp quite well – down to 20kWp would be unusual but also possible. The Fuel Save Controller is able to control the solar inverters so that the generator is protected (no energy flow into the generator) and the operation parameters of the generator are met. With common generators, a share of 30% generator power and 70% solar power can be reached at peak times.

      Your scenario requires the grid connected solar system(s) to be disconnected from the grid and switched over to the generator. This could be done with an ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch). The Fuel Save Controller would need a direct ethernet connection to the solar system(s) to provide it with active power setpoints either via copper line or with a fiber optics connection if distances up to 12 km would have to be bridged.

      The Fuel Save Controller can work with the following SMA inverter types: Sunny Tripower STP TL-30, STP US-10 and STP 60.

      The generators are just measured utilizing the Fuel Save Controllers measurement ports plus current transformers.

      I hope this answers your question. If you need more information or if you need help on designing a concrete system, let me know.

      Sunny regards,
      Christian

      Reply
  5. Mohan Lal Katyal
    Mohan Lal Katyal says:

    I want to get information about hybrid unit of solar energy ,solar plate +wind energy (wind dynamo & it’s required parts ) .how can I get energy from it ,which work,which provide electricity day & night approximately 2 or 3kWh

    Reply
    • Christian Höhle
      Christian Höhle says:

      Hi Edidiong,

      your example represents the “small” fuel save solution – a blueprint for the fuel save solution in the big and large scale.

      The SMA Fuel Save Controller is available in four models:

      FSC-20 S-Package: up to 0.5 MWp
      FSC-20 M-Package: up to 1 MWp
      FSC-20 L-Package: up to 5 MWp and Storage support
      FSC-20 Customized: up to 50 MWp and customized functions for special systems

      Sunny regards,
      Christian

      Reply
  6. Simon Augustine
    Simon Augustine says:

    Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) challenging geographical settings is a huge challenge to a have a unified grid.

    Right now the state power utility company is struggling to operate its 14 off-grid centers which are diesel generated base.

    We’ve got sunlight all year around, a solar-diesel generation mix would be an ideal solution to cut down the high operational cost of the 14 loss making centers in PNG.

    I’m interested to have a discussion with your team and see if we could foster a way forward for business in PNG.

    FACTS:

    (1) 80 % if PNG is still without access to electricity – PNG Government medium term strategic development plan 2010-2030 aims to have 70% of the populace have access to electricity by 2030. the fact is that a unified national grid can not be achieved within this time frame, considering our economic situation, geographical and social challenges.

    The way forward for PNG is to look in developing cost effective island grid for those isolated and remote part of PNG.

    My personal view is to look into diesel -solar generation mix as cost effective approach to take.

    I’m very interested to make some arrangement with your organisation as soon as possible.

    (2) The state own power company, PNG Power Ltd has 14 loss off-grid making centers which are diesel operated. The electricity tarriff in PNG is regulated and based on ‘building block method’ where the high profit grids which are hydro based cross-subsidizes the cost of operating the 14 high cost diesel centers.

    Thus, we are looking for solutions to cut down on the high operational cost for operating the 14 loss making centers and to improve PNG Power Ltd financial constraints.

    Regards,

    Simon Augustine.

    Reply
    • Christian Höhle
      Christian Höhle says:

      Hi Simon,

      thanks for this great opportunity! We have received your emails and we would also be happy to get in contact with you.
      We will contact you by email.

      Best regards,
      Christian

      Reply
    • Ian O'Callaghan
      Ian O'Callaghan says:

      Hello Simon,
      I work for Hatz Diesel (based in Australia) and looking after PNG.

      We would be very interested to discuss and present our Modular Power Systems (Twinpack Units) which are Low Load Smart Diesel Generating Sets using our Industrial Air Cooled Diesel Engines.

      Hatz have supplied Twinpack Systems working on Islands such (including Fiji and Palau) in unison with PV Solar and SMA Fuel Save Controllers to provide reliable Grids and eliminating the need for Storage Batteries.

      If you would be so kind to send me an email to iocallaghan@hatz.com.au and I will gladly reply with more information on our Twinpack Systems.

      Kindest Regards,
      Ian O’Callaghan
      Mobile +61 407 235 865

      Reply
      • Christian Höhle
        Christian Höhle says:

        Hi Naqeb,

        for small systems below approximately 100kW, you will find suitable solutions with our Sunny Island systems (see more info here and here).

        Sunny regards,
        Christian

  7. vaneck siako
    vaneck siako says:

    Hello dear
    I would like to know to make and hybrid system using solar panels and gazéification of biomasse
    Thanks for ure help

    Reply
    • Christian Höhle
      Christian Höhle says:

      Dear Vaneck,

      gas generators driven by biomass can be integrated in a fuel save solution just as a fuel driven genset.

      First you would do a plant layout and calculate which solar peak power you need. Sunny Design can help you with that (please note that you have to register before the hybrid plant layout features are available).

      The Fuel Save Controller as a central energy flow coordinator would be configured to know the genset’s needs in terms of minimum loads, ramps, …
      Furthermore, the FSC would measure genset(s) as well as solar power and load and then control the solar power output so that a maximum of fuel / gas is saved without impacting system stability.

      I hope this answers your question. Feel free to ask if you have any questions left.
      If you have a concrete project, you can also get in contact with our experts at FuelSaveSolution@sma.de

      Sunny regards,
      Christian

      Reply
    • Christian Höhle
      Christian Höhle says:

      Hello woldesenbdt,

      if you like to import solar hybrid systems, this is no problem. Please get in touch with our fuel save solution design experts at FuelSaveSolution@sma.de so you can determine which components and services you need for your projects. We ship that components worldwide.

      Best regards,
      Christian

      Reply

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