Defy have launched an off-grid solar fridge and freezer range. (Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty).
- Household appliances group Defy is launching an off-grid freezer and fridge in South Africa.
- Homeowners will have to buy their own solar panels and batteries, and News24 estimates that a full off-grid fridge system will cost in the order of R24 000.
- Defy says the solution will save South Africans R600 per annum in electricity bills and ensure an uninterrupted supply.
- For climate change news and analysis, go to News24 Climate Future.
Defy is launching a fully off-grid solar-powered fridge and freezer range in South Africa to help keep perishables cool in case of power outages.
The units will work completely off-grid. However, owners will have to buy the solar panels and batteries themselves.
Defy said that the product was developed in response to the elevated levels of load shedding in South Africa and provides an option for households looking to protect their perishables without paying for a full solar installation.
The fridge will retail for R9 999, while the freezer unit will sell for R8 999.
The company recommended that three 550W panels be installed in inland areas and coastal regions install three 700W panels. It also recommends a 200a.h 12V lithium-ion battery.
A battery with those specs is available for R7 690 and a 550W panel is currently available for R2 150, using prices from the Solar Warehouse website. If these prices are used, a total off-grid fridge installation would cost in the order of R20 000.
Defy estimated that the installation is roughly a fifth of the price of a full home solar installation and that the annual electricity savings from the solution will be in the order of R600.
The products will be powered directly by the solar panels and will draw power from the battery at night or in case of poor generation conditions such as cloud cover. It is also possible to connect the products to an electricity supply to convert it to a hybrid solution.
In a statement, Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel welcomed the product launch, which was co-developed by South African and Turkish experts.
The Defy off-grid fridge will retail for R9 999, exclusive of battery and solar panels. (Supplied/Defy).
The Defy off-grid freezer will sell for R8 999. Batteries and solar panels will still need to be purchased. (Supplied/Defy).
“Climate change necessitates a comprehensive transformation of the technologies utilised both at home and within the industry,” he said.
“South Africa is actively ensuring the production of future technologies and meeting the demand for lower-emission consumer products. This opens a platform for green industrialisation by South Africa,” Patel said.
The products will be available in South African stores later in March.