December 2023. South Africa’s ongoing energy shortages have forced many businesses to rely on diesel generators for backup power, especially in remote locations. However, Jaci’s Lodges, a 5-star ecotourism operation in the Madikwe Game Reserve, has chosen a more sustainable path. Commissioned in August 2023, our microgrid system removed the need for backup diesel generation.

In a nutshell, it’s a stationary 24/7 power solution that combines solar power, short-term battery energy storage, and long-duration hydrogen energy storage.

Here’s how the100kW H₂IPO works:
• Powered by a combination of grid & 200 kWp solar energy input
• A battery system ensures short-term energy storage
• Enapter Electrolysers produce on-site green hydrogen
• Hydrogen is stored in Hexagon Purus’s Type-4 cylinders
• Toyota’s Hydrogen Fuel Cells then provide backup power

The fuel cells also generate hot water, heating the lodge’s rooms and pools.
This hybrid system maximises solar PV usage and minimises grid dependence, providing clean, reliable, and quiet power.
The lodge and Elemental Energy are working on upscaling the installation to cater for a larger power requirement from the combined group of lodges.

All this ensures that guests at Jaci’s Lodges will enjoy the big-5 game viewing experience in the Madikwe Game Reserve, undisturbed.