Timber Processing Cannot Afford Unplanned Stoppages
Palkor Timbers runs industrial machinery — saws, planers, drying kilns, and conveyor systems — that cannot be safely interrupted mid-process. An unplanned power outage doesn't just stop production; it can damage equipment, waste in-process material, and create safety hazards. Load shedding at Stage 6 was threatening to interrupt production for up to 12 hours per day.
Specific pain points:
- Industrial machinery requiring stable, continuous power supply
- Load shedding causing production stoppages and material waste
- High electricity demand from processing equipment and drying operations
- Rising Eskom tariffs increasing the cost of every board processed
Hybrid Solar + Battery — Production Continuity at Lower Cost
Gentricity designed a hybrid system that eliminated load shedding risk while significantly reducing electricity costs:
System specifications:
- 156 kWp solar panel array on processing facility roofs
- 150 kVA hybrid inverter managing solar, battery, and grid simultaneously
- 200 kWh lithium battery storage providing production continuity during outages
- Intelligent load management prioritising critical processing equipment
- Real-time monitoring with remote management capability
Why hybrid was essential:
- Timber processing machinery cannot be interrupted — batteries ensure continuity
- 156 kWp of solar dramatically reduces daytime grid consumption
- 200 kWh battery bank covers standard load shedding windows for critical loads
- The hybrid approach combines savings (solar) with protection (battery)
Results (Estimated based on system specifications and industry benchmarks)
| Metric | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Production downtime from load shedding | Eliminated for critical loads |
| Electricity cost reduction | 50–65% |
| Estimated annual savings | R600,000 – R900,000 |
| Battery backup duration | 3–6 hours full production load |
| Payback period | 4–5 years |
Note: Figures are estimates based on system size and SA commercial solar benchmarks. Actual results may vary.
What This Project Demonstrates
For industrial processing and manufacturing facilities:
- Industrial operations with large roofs and high daytime consumption are ideal solar candidates
- 200 kWh battery storage eliminates standard load shedding risk for critical equipment
- Hybrid systems provide both cost savings and operational resilience — not a compromise
- Timber, manufacturing, and processing operations with safety-critical machinery need guaranteed continuity
Relevant solutions: