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CTS has supplied 21 weather stations for the Biota research project. These weather stations are designed according to world meteorological standard.

Each station consists of:

• Wind Speed and Direction Sensor
• Irradiance Sensor
• Humidity/Ambient Temperature Sensor
• Barometric Pressure Sensor
• Ground Temperature Sensor
• Leaf Wetness Sensor
• Rain Bucket

The weather stations are equipment with the CR1000 logger from Campbell Scientific. Special software has been developed to allow automatic transmission of the weather data to a server based in Germany via GPRS using the local GSM network. Software updates can be done remotely minimizing travel.

Weather data can be viewed at: www.sasscalweathernet.org 

CTS was approached by the Botswana Meteorological Department and the University of Hamburg with the request to install automatic weather stations across Botswana. A total of 10 stations were engineered and build at our workshop in Windhoek prior to installation commencement. With our own tower design, the installation time is reduced to nearly 8 hours per tower.

The stations are equipped with sensors from Vaisala, Kipp and Zonen. At the heart of each station is the CR1000 logger from Campbell Scientific. Each station is capable to measure the following:

• Wind speed
• Wind direction
• Humidity
• Air Temperature
• Irradiance
• Barometric pressure
• Ground Temperature
• Rain
• Leaf wetness

In addition to the above parameters the following parameters are calculated by the logger by means of mathematical models.

• Dew point temperature
• Wet bulb temperature
• Sunshine duration

The data from the station is transmitted to ftp servers situated in Gaborone/Botswana as well as Hamburg/Germany on an hourly bases over locally available GSM network providers. Once the data is uploaded to the server in Hamburg, it is processed and posted on a publicly available website. This website collects data of numerous stations across Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Angola and South Africa for research purposes. A total of 8000km was covered in just under 4 weeks.

An existing off-grid solar PV system was expanded to a total of 4,44kW on the farm Ombirisu north of Okahandja and the battery was upgraded to a Lithium-ion technology.

Final System Specifications:

• 6 x 295W Canadian Solar have been added to an existing PV array to deliver a final capacity of 4,44kW
• Replacing old charge regulators with 3 x Victron MPPT 150/70
• Replace old battery with 1 x BlueNova Lithium-ion battery 24V-24kWh
• Pole mounted solar array
• Online connection with remote access

This paradise in the Damaraland is a popular tourist destination. Being located in a remote area, they demanded reliable machines, with the highest quality, that are also versatile. Miele machines are able to tackle everyday laundry problems – safely, conveniently and economically.

With the many years of experience, CTS provided Palmwag Lodge with a complete solution. We know that reliability is a key requirement, to ensure trouble free working, while maintaining the highest of standards. CTS, the ideal solution to any situation.

Three localities in the Otjozondjupa region where successfully electrified by means of Off-Grid PV containers. The system sizes varied from 6kW, 12kW to 25kW of PV power. PV modules where installed on roofs of nearby houses, batteries, inverter/charger and switchgear are located in our proven design of prefabricated containers to keep the components cool, even in the hottest of climates.

The system is an AC coupled PV system with SMA Sunny Island (SI 8.0) inverter and SunnyBoys of various sizes. Communication between all components is based on a wireless RS485 solution from Phoenix Contact with a distance covered of 1.5km.

Sites that were electrified in the Otjozondjupa region are:

• Rooidag Hek 
• M’Kata
• Kukurushe

National Botanical Research institute approached CTS to upgrade two of their existing AWS to satellite communication and subsequent installation at Kanovlei in the Tsumkwe Area as well as Koichab Pan close to Lüderitz.

Communication is via Meteosat satellites and based on a “fire and forget” principal which unfortunately does not allow remote maintenance procedures.

The stations form part of the SASSCAL Weathernet and measure all important meteorological parameters.

Weather data can be viewed at: www.sasscalweathernet.org