Case Study: Commercial Self-Consumption Photovoltaic Installation in a Livestock Farm
Granja El Convento – El Tablero, Tenerife (Canary Islands)
This case study analyzes a commercial self-consumption photovoltaic installation developed in a livestock farm located in El Tablero (Tenerife, Canary Islands), whose main objective is the complete reduction of the electricity bill through the use of solar energy.
The plant has been designed to cover 100% of electricity consumption and is based on inverter technology from Sungrow, specifically the Sungrow SG50CX-P2 model, a solution widely used in commercial installations due to its reliability, efficiency and ease of integration.
The installation is complemented by an advanced monitoring system and an electric vehicle charger, reinforcing the project’s sustainability and energy self-consumption approach.
- Location: El Tablero, Tenerife – Granja El Convento (Canary Islands)
- Project type: Commercial self-consumption photovoltaic installation for livestock sector applications
- Installer: Canarias Autosostenible
The facility presents a high daytime electricity consumption profile associated with livestock activity, making photovoltaic self-consumption a particularly efficient solution from both a technical and economic perspective.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The objectives defined for this installation were:
- Drastically reduce the farm’s energy costs.
- Achieve an almost zero electricity bill.
- Maximize direct self-consumption during solar hours.
- Integrate the installation without interrupting daily farm operations.
- Improve sustainability and reduce dependence on the electrical grid.
TECHNICAL DESIGN OF THE INSTALLATION
Power and configuration
- Total installed power (DC): 48 kWp
- Total installed power (AC): 50 kW
The DC/AC ratio was dimensioned to optimize system performance and ensure efficient production aligned with the client’s consumption profile.
Inverter and power
- Inverter model: Sungrow SG50CX-P2
- Number of inverters: 1 unit
- Unit power: 50 kW
- Type: Three-phase inverter for commercial installations
The Sungrow SG50CX inverter was selected for its robustness, high efficiency and suitability for commercial self-consumption installations with continuous and demanding consumption profiles.
Photovoltaic generation
- Module type: N-Type bifacial photovoltaic module (SG-54TG4D-505)
- Module unit power: 505 Wp
- Total number of modules: 100 units
The use of N-Type bifacial modules contributes to improving the overall energy performance of the installation, particularly relevant in locations with high solar irradiation such as the Canary Islands.
ENERGY PRODUCTION AND RESULTS
Estimated annual production: 80,000 – 85,000 kWh/year (specific estimate for Tenerife)
Operational results
According to the system design and performance estimates:
- 100% of daytime electricity consumption is covered by photovoltaic generation.
- Nighttime consumption is compensated by surplus energy generated during the day.
- The final result is an almost zero electricity bill.
These results confirm the adequacy of the system sizing and the correct selection of power electronics.
TECHNICAL CHALLENGES
During the design and execution phases, the following challenges were considered:
- Integration of the installation into a fully operational livestock facility.
- Ensuring operational continuity without interruptions.
- Optimizing self-consumption for an intensive daytime consumption profile.
- System reliability in a demanding environment.
The solution based on Sungrow technology successfully addressed these challenges.
MONITORING AND CONTROL
Monitoring system
- Monitoring equipment: Sungrow COM100E
- Platform: iSolarCloud
The monitoring system enables continuous tracking of energy production, inverter status and overall plant performance, facilitating remote supervision and system optimization.
In conclusion, this project demonstrates how a properly dimensioned self-consumption photovoltaic installation based on Sungrow technology can deliver optimal energy results in commercial livestock applications.
The combination of the SG50CX inverter, N-Type bifacial modules, advanced monitoring and electric mobility integration has enabled the achievement of the defined objectives: cost reduction, daytime energy self-sufficiency and improved farm sustainability.