Check out Sahara, an off-grid solar generator made in the GCC

Sahara — KSA’s answer to off-grid sustainable energy: Manufactured in a Jeddah factory, Desert Technology’s (DT) solar generator Sahara is an off-grid containerized solar generator (CSG) that provides sustainable, affordable access to electricity in remote areas with quick and easy installation. The solar generator is designed as a standalone microgrid to provide small businesses, households, and larger enterprises with enough energy to power shops, machinery, and appliances at a fraction of the cost of diesel generation without the pollutants, their website notes.

How does it work? The Sahara models are compact and portable, including solar modules, inverters, a smart meter, batteries, and a control panel. Solar panels can be fitted atop ready-made structures that can be easily unfolded on site. During daylight hours, power flows directly through the photovoltaic system and switches to sourcing power through a battery bank at night, providing power 24/7. The product packs a versatile PV inverter designed to operate under varying temperatures, ranging from -25°C and 60°C, according to DT's fact sheet, offering suitable off-grid solar deployment for virtually any region.

Let’s talk specs: DT launched two containerized solar systems of Sahara — the Sahara 20’s and Sahara 40’s. The 20’s series stands 20 feet high and the 40’s series reaches 40 feet in height. Both have an expected operational lifetime of over 15 years, with PV modules reaching a 390 watt peak (Wp) and similar battery inverter specs of 13.8 KW with an energy efficiency rate of approximately 98.6%.

Pick between the Sahara 20’s…: The four models range between 110-180 sqm in size, generating between 21.5-35 kWp of solar energy. The battery storage capacity ranges between 38.4 kW to 76.8 kW.

… or the 40’s: These four models range between 220-340 sqm in size, generating between 35-130 kWp of solar energy. The battery storage capacity ranges between 76.8 kW to 153.6 kW. The Sahara 40’s series was designed with Africa’s energy needs in mind and can power about 100 households in remote villages in Africa, according to a company press release.

DT has nabbed government interest: The Communications and Information Technology Ministry inked an MoU with Desert Technologies to help the kingdom to operate its 5G network towers via solar energy, according to renewable energy publication PV Magazine.

And is ramping up production capacity: The Saudi company launched a subsidiary, Nurun Digital Energy, to produce more of its solar containers for off-grid portable energy generation in November. More recently, it signed an agreement with Oman’s Colossal Engineering and Construction to launch solar projects in Oman on the sidelines of the Saudi-Omani Investment Forum this month.