How many solar panels and batteries you need for your cold room?
As the world are shifting toward new energy, many people asking for a solar powered cold room. In this blog, we will be discussing how many solar panels you need in order run a 20ft container cold room.
In this blog, we will take DOLUYO 3HP monoblock refrigeration as example, DCF030AM-IC3(image2) Nominal Power is 2550W. We choose this model because it can be used in a wide temperature range from -35℃~10℃ and it is more energy efficient compare to other monoblock refrigeration. As we have compared energy consume of hot gas defrost and electric defrost in previous blog, we know for sure DOLUYO’s refrigeration is way more energy efficient compare to others.
1. Calculate Total Energy Consumption
Power Consumption: 2550W
Operating hours per day: 24hours
Total daily energy consumption: 2550*24=61200Watt-hours(Wh) or approximately 61.2(kWh)
2. Estimate Solar Panel Requirements
The requirement for solar panels depends on the solar irradiance of your location (measured in kWh/m²/day), which determines how much electricity the panels can generate each day.
Assuming an average solar irradiance of 5 kWh/m²/day (common for many regions) and assuming an efficiency of 18% for the solar panels, we calculate as follows:
Electricity produced per square meter of solar panels per day = Solar irradiance × Efficiency = 5 kWh/m²/day × 18% = 0.9 kWh/m²/day
Required area of solar panels = Total energy demand / Electricity per square meter = 61.2 kWh / 0.9 kWh/m²/day ≈ 68 m²
Thus, you would need about 70 square meters of solar panels
3. Battery Requirement Calculation
The battery capacity should cover at least one day's energy usage, and considering consecutive cloudy days, it's typically recommended to have a reserve for 3-5 days.
Total battery reserve capacity (assuming 3 days of reserve) = 3 × 61.2 kWh = 183.6 kWh
The Depth of Discharge (DOD) of the battery is another consideration; if using lithium batteries, they can typically handle a DOD of over 80%.
Actual required total battery capacity = Total battery reserve capacity / DOD = 183.6 kWh / 0.8 ≈ 229.5 kWh
Conclusion
To power an 2550W cold storage unit continuously for 24 hours, you would roughly need:
Solar Panels: About 70 square meters, ideally installed in a location with ample sunlight.
Battery Capacity: At least 229.5 kWh, with high-efficiency lithium batteries recommended.
These estimates are based on general assumptions, and specific details may vary based on your geographic location, local climate, and the actual performance of the solar panels and batteries. It is advisable to consult with professional solar system suppliers to get more precise configurations and quotations.
Monoblock refrigeration are often used in 20ft/40ft container project, which does not require install.
