Containerized Solar Generators [All You Need To Know]
A containerized solar generator collects solar energy using extendable PV solar panels and converts it to usable power.
The compact and robust enclosure of a containerized solar generator houses all the components needed for the conversion. The structure can also be used as an operator's room.
According to Research And Markets, containerized solar generators have become the preferred power generation units, thanks to their reliable, efficient, versatile, and durable nature.
Looking to install a containerized solar generator for household or industrial needs?
Here is a detailed guide explaining how these power units work to deliver clean power, along with other crucial details that you should know.
What is a Containerized Solar Generator?
A containerized solar generator is a pre-wired power unit that harnesses the sun's energy and converts it to usable energy.
With a containerized solar generator, you get clean and uninterrupted energy at a fraction of the cost needed to generate the same power as a conventional generator.
Containerized solar generators can meet high energy demands, thanks to their high-tech and very efficient components. Additionally, they work in various locations and environments effortlessly.
These power units are well distributed in the global market but populate North America and Asia Pacific regions.
For North America, it’s due to the shift from fuel power to solar power in the commercial scope. Asia Pacific regions are generally more aware of the benefits of clean/green energy.
According to a report by Transparency Market Research, the market growth rate of containerized solar generators is expected to be highest in the commercial sector due to increased awareness about clean energy and support by the government. Residential and Industrial sectors follow in that order.
Now let’s look at the components that make a containerized solar generator.
Components of a Containerized Solar Generator
| Component | Role |
| The enclosure | This is the compact and sturdy structure that houses all the other components. The enclosure is the core of these power units as it ensures everything is nicely housed and protected. These solar generators are called ‘containerized’ because of the enclosure. |
| PV solar panels | If the enclosure is the core of a containerized solar generator, the PV solar panels are its heart. They keep solar generators ‘alive’ by availing solar energy that’s later converted to usable or storable power. The panels can be auxiliary mount from the ground or at the top of the backup generator. |
| Battery bank | Batteries store the energy produced by the solar generator, usually to be used later. |
| Tech- intelligent inverters | To convert the Direct Current from the solar panels, containerized solar generators have high-tech inverters. |
| Optional backup generator | Containerized solar generators can easily be integrated with DGs or propane generators. These increase the efficiency of the power unit since it continues producing power even when there’re fluctuations in solar energy production. |
| Vents and climate control | To improve the efficiency of components such as batteries and inverters, climate control comes in handy. With the feature, you can, for example, set the unit to operate at a specific optimum temperature. |
The Working Principle of Containerized Solar Generators
A containerized solar generator leverages a very simple 3-steps working principle.
1. Harnessing solar energy
The sun hitting the PV array is collected and converted to DC. The amount of solar energy collected depends on the size and efficiency of the solar panels.
The solar panels are connected to the high-tech inverters for this second step.
2. DC to AC conversion
Containerized solar generators have very efficient inverters that convert DC to AC for direct use. Top-of-the-line solar inverters should do the conversion to match all your power needs.
3. Availing the generated power
The power produced by containerized solar generators needs to be availed to the consumer. Here are the main ways this power is availed:
- Batteries- Solar-powered batteries can be charged and the stored energy used to power equipment and devices in your setting.
- AC mains- If your unit is producing good enough power, which it definitely should, you can feed it to the grid.
- PV module- This is the typical solar panel-inverter- off-grid outlet setup that you can do for a home. This time, though, with all components embedded on a single unit.
- A fuel generator set- A containerized solar generator easily integrates with a fuel generator to dispense power when there’s no sunlight. To accommodate a propane or DG set, most solar panels will have an optional compartment for that.
How to Choose a Containerized Solar Generator?
When choosing a containerized solar generator, there’s a lot to consider. Let’s jump into the most important considerations:
| Factor | Description | Recommendation |
| Size, and flexibility of the PV solar panels. | The solar panels’ flexibility determines how easy mounting, uninstalling, moving, and storing the power unit is. The size of the panels is directly proportional to the power they produce. | The larger and more flexible the PV panels are, the better. Don't forget that the racking system should be flexible and user-friendly too. |
| Robustness of the enclosure | Containerized solar generators are sized according to the power they produce per day. According to my research, these are standard sizes of containerized solar generators: 10-40KWh, 40-80KWh, 80-150KWh, and more than 150KWh. | Pick the size that can serve your specific power needs. The lower production units are suitable for households, while the larger units are perfect for commercial settings, industries, and governmental organizations. |
| Warranty | Needless to say, a containerized solar generator is not a mere investment. You, therefore, need to have an assurance that will serve you for a reasonable amount of time. | A warrantied unit is better than a non-warrantied one. The longer the warranty period, the better. |
| Additional features | A backup generator, flexible PV mounting arrays, remote monitoring services, all these are nice and simple, but crucial additional features for a containerized solar generator. | While ideally, you could do with a containerized solar generator without some of these features, they wouldn't hurt a consideration. |
By following these guidelines, you’ll never go wrong choosing a containerized solar generator.
What is the Cost of Containerized Solar Generators?
I know you’re eager to know what you should pay for this power unit. Well, with as low as $1000, you can get a nice reliable unit, but the price can extend as much as the features and capability dictate.
To avoid exorbitant deals, compare various deals and choose the best price for the features you’re getting. It’s the obvious solution, right?
Ideally, though, a containerized solar generator is supposed to be a highly customizable unit, starting from the price to reliability and flexibility you expect.
What do I mean here?
Choose a company that listens to your needs.
Installing a containerized solar generator
How much of a rabbit hole the installation process can be, depends on the complexity of the model you have.
However, the good news is most containerized solar generators sellers will offer the installation service, absolutely free.
Essentially, a serious brand in this scope will have the right personnel to do not only epic installation but a follow-up thereafter.
This is the standard installation procedure of a containerized solar generator:
Firstly, the preliminaries- Let’s assume you want to install a containerized solar generator in your home establishment. You won’t get right into it, but will first request your seller to do the following:
- An energy audit and feasibility study
- A suitable personalized solar generator design
- Financial modeling
These three processes show that this is a data collection and analysis step and is the core of a highly customized containerized solar generator.
Secondly, the actual installation- This involves the generator assembly and on-site installation. While you may think this is the most complicated part of the installation process, it’s actually the easiest- when the preliminaries above are done right.
Remember that this power unit comes ready to use, and the typical much that’s done is to set up the PV array. A team of good solar technicians will do this in half an hour, or utmost, an hour.
Lastly, operation testing- Here, all the components of the containerized solar generators are tested to confirm they function properly. In my view, I consider this as the most important step in the installation process.
After all, no one would want to invest in a power unit that’s struggling to perform its intended role.
This opens up our next discussion: what are the maintenance needs of containerized solar generators, and what’s the expected longevity of a standard model?
Lifespan and Maintenance of Containerized Generators
A typical containerized solar generator should last for around 30 years. This is of course if the unit is maintained properly.
Here are some tips to consider:
| Type of maintenance | Description/Tips |
| PV maintenance | This is just your usual PV maintenance process: Cleaning the panels regularly, frequently checking if the panels are properly fixed, testing for low power production from time to time, etc. |
| Inverter maintenance | Remove dirt or grime that accumulates on your inverter. Also, see to it that the environment is not overly moist or too hot for the inverter (the climate control can really help you out here). |
| Battery maintenance | Clean batteries regularly, check and ensure the charging terminals are free of rust (check our solar-powered rechargeable batteries and battery chargers post for more insights on this), and replace low-efficiency batteries. |
| General maintenance | Don't focus on the individual components that let slip the other small details. If your power unit is connected to a fuel generator, check its fueling capabilities from time to time. In the same spirit, ensure the enclosure is in good shape at all times. |
Remember when I talked of the extra feature- remote monitoring capability? It could help you out here.
With it, you can get crucial maintenance notifications that will get you acting before things get too far.
By taking a more focused approach to maintaining a solar generator, you can bet that its performance and longevity will surpass your expectations.
Containerized Solar Generators Vs. Fuel Powered Generators
Here are the main differences between containerized solar generators and their conventional counterparts.
| Factor | Containerized solar generator | Fuel-powered generator |
| Initial cost | High initial cost | The initial cost is relatively lower |
| Maintenance cost | There’re no moving parts during operation; hence maintenance needs and costs are significantly reduced | The use of fossil fuels bring more operational problems; hence the maintenance cost is high |
| Battery charging speed | Slower at charging battery storage | Faster at charging battery storage |
| Output power | Low output power, especially when there’s no enough sunlight | Relatively higher output power |
| Eco-friendliness | Very eco-friendly since the sun’s energy (clean energy) is used | Fossil fuels have the capability of polluting the environment |
Pros and Cons of Containerized Solar Generators
Pros
Clean energy
Containerized solar generators use clean energy from the sun and hence are highly environmentally friendly.
Ready to use
A good containerized solar generator will come with everything ready, including pre-wired power outlets for plug and play.
Easy to install
Containerized solar generators should be up and running in 3 hours regardless of the configuration. No special skills are needed, and the installation can be done using standard tools.
Hybrid/all-in-one solution
A containerized solar generator is a complete unit that comes with all the components needed to produce usable power. The generator’s enclosure can even be used as an operating room, adding to better usability.
24/7 power production
As long as there’s sunshine, the generator will never stop producing power. It’s a feature that makes it pretty reliable.
Highly versatile
The entire system can be moved from one place to another, thanks to portability features such as base wheels and collapsible solar panels. These generators are designed to meet power needs regardless of location and scale.
Improved safety
The housing of these generators is a great safety feature for a power production unit. With collapsible PV modules, you can dismantle and safely store the panels when you’re not using them or during transportation.
Cons
High initial cost
As seen in the cost section, the initial cost of containerized solar generators is pretty high. However, the long-term cost-effectiveness compensates for this.
Weather dependency
Although solar PV modules are continually being improved to eliminate weather dependency, containerized solar generators are still not yet there.
Low output power
Currently, the output power of containerized solar generators is still low compared to conventional generators. The good thing is, the production technology is being improved, and soon, this will not be an issue.
Conclusion
With the current rise in industrialization, energy demands are increasing day by day.
While it’s still possible to use fuel containerized generators to meet the rising energy demands, there’s a great risk of environmental pollution.
Containerized solar generators are environmentally friendly- they tap into the clean energy from the sun.
Hopefully, you now know how containerized solar generators work and that you can now relate to why they are the future of energy production both at the household and industrial levels.
From the consumer end, investing in a containerized generator may seem like an expensive venture at the start, but trust me, it’s a worthy investment in the long run!
