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GSun
Biogas

GSun

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The innovative solution to ensure your energy independence

Generating your own electricity using biogas and solar energy

The aim of the solution is to enable the creation of a 100% self-sufficient power supply based primarily on solar energy, whilst avoiding the use of expensive batteries with a short lifespan.

To achieve this, we combine a gas generator with a series of solar panels.

When solar power no longer meets demand, the gas generator starts up automatically.

Introducing the concept of ‘gas’ into products or solutions designed to maximise the benefits of renewable energy naturally leads to a desire to incorporate biogas into the system to ensure that the entire setup is 100% renewable.

In theory, GSun can be used with any type of gas, but wherever possible, we encourage you to switch to the solution incorporating biogas.

The initial investment is, of course, slightly higher, but the kWh you generate will have a significantly lower cost price, you won’t be at the mercy of any supplier, and all this whilst helping to protect our planet!

Benefits

  • Enables the generation of stable electricity on demand and without interruptions

  • Very economical, as the gas generator uses very little fuel and only when necessary

  • Quiet and causing no noise pollution, the photovoltaic section is completely silent, whilst the biogas generator is around 10–20 dB quieter than a traditional diesel generator

  • Requires very little maintenance

  • Works in all normal weather conditions

  • Allows the output from the solar panels to be combined with that of the gas generator, if necessary, to cope with a peak in daytime consumption

  • With an estimated lifespan of 30 years (provided the gas generator is replaced every 10 years)

  • As it is environmentally friendly, the photovoltaic component offsets its environmental cost (manufacturing) within two years, whilst the biogas component represents a net benefit in that the combustion of methane generates far fewer greenhouse gases than methane itself; when supplied in cylinders, the gas produces less CO₂ than fuel oil for the same number of kWh generated

  • Can be connected to the mains

  • Does not use expensive batteries that need replacing every four years and generate waste

  • Allows you to use 100% of the solar power generated, rather than using 50% to charge the batteries

  • With good scalability, the photovoltaic system can be expanded, whilst the biogas component can be scaled up by reusing the components in a larger system or by doubling the capacity

  • No risk of fuel theft

General information

The possible configurations are endless, depending on the total energy consumption to be covered, the maximum power (also known as peak power) required, whether or not to incorporate solar power, the location on the planet and the resulting levels of sunlight, whether to opt for a biogas solution or simply use bottled gas, and so on.

We are therefore unable to provide an exhaustive price list. You will find a series of examples on the following pages to help guide you. Ultimately, only a bespoke assessment will enable us to identify the solution that perfectly meets your needs whilst being tailored to your specific circumstances.

Out of environmental conviction, we have chosen to present almost exclusively solutions incorporating a biogas component rather than the bottled gas option. Solutions of this type are nevertheless available on request.

The calculation of the cost price per kWh is a rough estimate and takes the following parameters into account: return on investment of 4%, lifespans depending on the chosen solution, the same applies to maintenance costs, zero costs for the organic material fed into the digesters (in principle, this is non-recycled waste), whereas the digestate is assigned a zero value even though it is a fertiliser that can be spread directly, the biogas productivity ratio is assumed to be 6 kWh/m³ (may rise to 7 depending on the nature of the material fed into the digester) and 350 days per year, insolation at 1,400 kWh per kWp installed (a slightly optimistic assumption for Central Europe but already easily achieved in the south of France and even exceeded in Italy or Spain), ...

Important: in the solutions presented here, the heat produced in the generators is not utilised.

If your project allows for such utilisation (water preheating, etc.), the efficiency is significantly improved. It is also essential to bear in mind that the efficiency of a biogas power generator depends on its load factor. In the event of significant underutilisation, efficiency is reduced.

These two factors explain why a proposal must always be tailored to existing and anticipated needs.
Once the digester is filled with 30% dry matter and 70% water, fermentation begins spontaneously and biogas production is assured from around the third day. From that point onwards, and depending on the materials introduced, biogas production will continue for 90 to 120 days.

Technical

Description of the components used

A complete installation consists of:

A digester consisting of a flexible liner (made of a material similar to that used for swimming pool liners), which is slipped into a frame assembled from prefabricated metal components (see images).

Assembly is extremely quick and, apart from a reasonably flat surface free of sharp edges, no major preparatory work is required.

The upper outlet of the bag is connected to a water/gas separator and then a sulphur filter. Once the gas has been cleaned in this way, it is ready for use in a suitable electric generator (depending on the required power output); in some cases, a pressure pump is fitted between the sulphur filter and the generator.

It is also possible to store the gas in a buffer bag (virtually identical to the digester bag, apart from the metal frame, which is not required here).

This provides a directly available power reserve for situations where a high peak power output needs to be achieved and maintained for several hours.

Alongside the gas system, there is also a conventional photovoltaic installation comprising solar panels and inverters, depending on the required output.

The two systems are integrated into a controller that distributes the required load, starting the gas generator(s) as needed.

Schematic diagram

Power

Configuration example

  • Possible scenarios
    Back-up power, holiday home, minimal requirements in the bush, ...
  • Biogas power
    3.5 kW
  • Solar power
    3 kW
  • List of components
    2 digesters (5 cbm
    ) 2 cbm
    buffer tank 1 compatible 3.5 kW
    biogas generator 10 SVG300
    modules 1 PowerOne inverter for a total of 3 kW
    20 m DC
    cable 1 DC
    protection box 1 AC
    protection box 1 5 kW P-controller
  • Production capacity
    approx. 7,000 kWh/year
  • FOB costs
    CHF 11,400 excl. VAT
  • Cost per kWh
    15.23 cts / kWh (approx. 0.127 EUR/kWh)

Power

Configuration example

  • Possible context
    Bush clinic,
    isolated farm, small workshop, ...
  • Biogas capacity
    8 kW
  • Solar power
    8 kW
  • List of components
    2 digesters (200 cbm
    ) 60 cbm
    buffer tank 1 water/biogas separator (max. 20 cbm/h
    1 biogas pressure pump, max. 15 cbm/h
    1 sulphur compound filter, 200 kg
    1 compatible 8 kW
    biogas generator 26 SVG310
    modules 1 PowerOne 8 kW
    inverter 80 m DC
    cable 1 installation frameServiPier
    1 DC
    protection box 1 AC
    protection box 1 P-controller 10kW
  • Production capacity
    approx. 65,000 kWh/year
  • FOB costs
    CHF 69,900 excl. VAT
  • Cost per kWh
    11.16 cts / kWh (approx. 0.1009 EUR/kWh)

Power

Configuration example

  • Possible context
    Large rural clinic,
    remote farm, workshop, etc.
  • Biogas capacity
    30 kW
  • Solar power
    30 kW
  • Production capacity
    approx. 170,000 kWh/year
  • FOB costs
    On request
  • Cost per kWh
    On request

Power

Configuration example

  • Possible context
    Rural hospital,
    large isolated farm, factory, etc.
  • Biogas capacity
    50 kW
  • Solar power
    50 kW
  • Production capacity
    approx. 410,000 kWh/year
  • FOB costs
    On request
  • Cost per kWh
    On request

For any specific configuration, a bespoke proposal will ensure the best possible cost-to-output ratio

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