Ground-mounted panels on tilting stands stood the test of severe storms in June 2017. The winds were apparently measured at 97km/h and caused massive destruction in the area. Thankfully, the panels stood firm, but unfortunately our beautiful Yellowwood tree did not fare as well.

Bedside table

A facultative pond is an additional purification step that can be added downstream from the digester. This oxygenates and removes additional pathogens from the digestate.

A metal jig is used to build the circular digester structure

Our son, Eli checking the 'power' of the log used to make a bench, with a voltmeter..:)

The axis of the tilting panel stand is a 50mm galvanised steel pole

Testing the integrity and strength of the tilting stand before mounting the panels

The first tilting stand completed. I since replaced these light chains with 6mm galvanised steel chain for extra stability

A small wind turbine on our roof in Cape Town. The one benefit of wind over solar is that it will work at night too.... but of course wind has its limitations in that it is an inconsistent energy source

Small Blackwood trees used in construction of a shed. I paint them with a product for wood borer beetle and mould protection, and then give them a few coats of raw linseed oil for added longevity

With a skilled team of builders, a biodigester like this could be built in 2-3 weeks

2020 rebuild winter angle

Planked and stacked after oiling in wood shed

Drone view of Solla Sollew to the south, with the ocean just visible down the Salt River gorge. Thanks and credit to Garth Ensley

This array is made up of 18 x 360Watt panels, 2 groups of 9 on each MPPT. This is an off-grid system with an 8kVA Victron Quattro inverter and a 20kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery.

The original tilting panel stands held 6 x 255W panels in portrait orientation. When I upgraded the system, I needed each stand to take 8 panels each, so added extensions onto each one to enable them to take the extra 2, it worked out well and I have not seen any stability problems as a result of this addition.

By the addition of these 2 struts, the original stand can now hold 8 x 360W panels in portrait orientation.