Energy and EnviroFiciency
A
urecon
has provided a wide range of innovative engineering
services for two environmentally-friendly buildings for the local
Korean motor trade.
Solar powered Kia dealership
Started in January 2012 and completed in February this year, this
project is the first eco-friendly, solar powered dealership for Kia Mo-
tors, Weltevreden Park, Gauteng, South Africa. The consideration of
a renewable energy concept for a 3 000 m
2
multi-function building
inevitably involves debating the virtues of a grid-tie inverter (GTI)
system versus an off-grid system.This is influenced by the life-cycle
costs of large battery back-ups and the precarious state of the coun-
try’s electrical power supply.
To meet the client’s requirement for total reliance on solar energy,
Aurecon specified an innovative combination of a GTI and an off-
grid system that is the largest of its kind in the local motor industry.
A significant design challenge was to size the two systems and
optimise them according to the building’s anticipated electrical load.
In order to minimise the costs of the off-grid solar power system,
especially the bank of batteries, the electrical design of the building
had to be as energy efficient as possible.
“The most exciting aspect of this project was the unique design
and integration between a traditional grid-tie system and a traditional
off-grid system,” says Herman Nortje, electrical engineer at Aurecon.
Aurecon’s computer modelling expertise and experience in design-
ing many of the country’s first Green Star rated buildings enabled
the team to accurately calculate the future building load. This was
followed by advanced solar simulations to predict the yield of the
envisaged solar power system.Together with a water collection and
recycling package, these aspects were then integrated into an electri-
cal system and solar power design that enables the motor dealership
to be fully operational and sustainable from solar power.
The optimised solar panel system generates a maximum daily
output of close to 70 kW.This is split between four inverters to pro-
duce 3-phase, 50 Hertz, 230 V electricity that is directly usable by the
standard electrical demand circuits of the building. Surplus power
first charges the battery back-up units and is then transferred to the
grid. Achieving this required a combination of energy efficient equip-
ment initiatives and client training in best practice efficient energy
management. Another unique feature was customising the system
and yield control to maximise the savings achievable with the specific
municipal electricity tariff structure.
It posed a number of design challenges and demanded custom-
made solutions from the equipment manufacturers. The benefit for
the client is a saving in electricity charges of R260 000 per annum
and a carbon saving of 117 tonne per annum.
Hyundai headquarters
Hyundai Automotive South Africa consolidated several departments
in an impressive new 10 000 m² building that was constructed in two
integrated phases.The Phase 1 structure was designed as an attrac-
tive, LED-lit work environment for approximately 200 employees,
while Phase 2 included a training facility with a hands-on training
vehicle workshop and conference centre that features a large audito-
rium. Both phases managed to achieve a 4-Star Green Star SA – Office
Design v1 rating, with Aurecon responsible for structural, electrical
and electronic, HVAC, and wet services, as well as environmentally
sustainable design and site supervision. The building includes im-
pressive sustainable design features such as a sophisticated energy
efficient electrical installation, use of lower carbon footprint materi-
als, solar water heating, water usage efficient systems and waste
management. Aurecon has designed an electrical and electronic
system that, on a limited budget, meets the Green Building Council
of South Africa’s (GBCSA) requirements, as well as the new building
requirements of SANS 10400 XA+A.
Enquiries: Jody Boshoff. Email
Environmentally-friendly buildings for two Korean motor companies
Electricity+Control
December ‘13
44
