With electricity tariffs rising drastically in South Africa, an LBSA system can reduce or even eliminate monthly electricity bills. Depending on your consumption profile and system size, businesses often achieve a payback period of 6–12 months.

The system size depends on your goals and operating profile:

• Whether you want to reduce costs only or aim for full energy independence
• Factory/warehouse operating hours
• Presence of machinery with high inductive loads

Using inverter peak‑shaving, the Rhino IntelliFlex battery discharges during peak tariff windows to lower your site’s demand charges, then recharges when electricity is cheaper.

Yes.

• Low Voltage LBSA batteries integrate seamlessly with single‑phase applications.
• High Voltage LBSA batteries are suited for three‑phase commercial systems.
• Generators can be integrated via the inverter, enabling continuous backup and true off‑grid capability.

The Rhino IntelliFlex High Voltage range includes a 10‑year warranty with unlimited cycles. After 10 years (assuming ~1 cycle/day at around 25°C), you can expect about 80% usable capacity remaining. LBSA also supports a 20–30 year service life outside the warranty period with repair and service options for continued assurance of functionality.

It is a common mistake to say that lithium batteries catch fire. There are different kinds of lithium and some are more susceptible to combust than others. Lithium-ion, for example, is more combustible and prone to swelling than Lithium Iron Phosphate. Which is why LiFeO4 is used in solar applications for households and businesses. That being said, most fires related to solar installations is due to improper sizing and loose wiring.

Since most industrial applications require 3 phase power, the solution is usually to go with a high voltage setup. LBSA has taken every precaution where safety is concerned which is the following: a. A dedicated trip breaker acts as a backup safeguard in case of a contactor failure or short circuit event, providing an extra layer of protection. b. Wire free connections on the Rhino Intelliflex High Voltage Battery to ensure the elimination of electrocution. c. LBSA has also partnered with Fireblock to provide an automates fire suppression system that is proven to prevent LiFePO4 fires..

The Rhino Intelliflex HV battery can be upgraded from 23kwh up to 88kwh per rack. 60x HV racks can be connected to increase battery capacity. That's as much as 5.2MW!

LBSA batteries have a low IP rating. This means that the battery cannot get wet or get too much dust where connections must go. However, LBSA batteries are usually equipped with vents for air circulation to help with temperature control.

There are multiple options for financing, rent-to-own and PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) for those who are unable to lay down a large sum for solar. These solutions are done by outsourced companies. Customers can contact LBSA for more information.

The installation process for the LBSA Rhino Intelliflex HV battery is extremely fast and straight forward. Thanks to it's wire free design, it takes no more than 8 minutes and 23 seconds to install a 72kwh rack. LBSA will even assist an installer to commission the battery!

LBSA batteries communicate to inverters via CAN and to each other via RS485.

LBSA offers private installer training on all LBSA batteries.

To size a system you will need to accumulate information on the site such as monthly power consumption, max load, times of max usage etc. As soon as you have all those details it will depend if the system must be off grid or just be sized to use less power. In most cases it is best to have a qualified installer do a site evaluation to determine what is required.

The Rhino Intelliflex HV Battery will soon have live monitoring via the LBSA Sentinel to have remote access to each site. An installer would be able to view each cell voltage, each battery's SOC and events. The Sentinel can also be used to remotely trip the circuit breaker, turn the batteries on, and set an alarm to identify which battery in the container you are looking for. The expected ETA for this feature is the end of 2025 to the beginning of 2026.

Large projects from a MegaWatt and upwards can take 3 to 5 business days to manufacture. Smaller sites take 24 to 48hrs to manufacture.

LBSA has partnered with Fireblock Lithium to integrate their advanced suppression technology directly into our battery systems — ensuring that every installation is as safe as it is powerful. When the battery reaches a certain temperature internally the Fireblock canister will automatically disperse its signature, bio-degradable gel to stop any flames or smoke.

When it comes to High Voltage installations LBSA understands the uncertainty installers face. That is why LBSA has an experienced technical team that is available throughout South Africa to guide them through the commissioning process. From coming out to site to assisting with setup and settings, to performance testing, we ensure your installation runs smoothly, safely, and to specification. LBSA also has technicians available to assist with system queries, quotations and remote troubleshooting.

Not all solar/backup systems are the same. Each system is designed to cater to a specific set of needs. For example: 19.1- Grid-tie installations only have solar panels connected with the grid and no batteries. This is for systems where no backup is required. 19.2- Hybrid systems use a combination of DC sources to support a load. DC sources include batteries, solar panels and wind turbines. 19.3- Off-grid systems rely entirely on alternative sources for power as they are not connected to the grid. Alternative sources include batteries, solar panels, generators and wind turbines.

Commercial solar systems can range between 35 to 500+ solar panels. So depending on your pv requirements will determine how much space is required. One solar panel uses roughly 2.4 m² of space.

Yes, they do. Panels can still generate a small percentage of power even during cloudy days, just like your skin call still burn when it is overcast. Panels do produce less power during the winter but that is because of the shorter daylight hours. That being said, the cold temperatures that come with winter actually improve solar panel efficiency compared to the hot temperatures of summer.

Most solar panels come with a lifespan of 20 to 30 years with a degrading percentage of 0.5% every year. You can expect to have 80% efficiency left after about 10 years.

Solar panels usually have a 12 year linear warranty whereas inverters can range from 1 year (for budget options) to 10 year (for premium options).

It's simple, if you have a roof, you can have solar! Just do it! Get yourself an inverter, a few panels and one or two batteries.

Panels are low maintenance. Just give them a rinse every few weeks.

Yes, of course. Your panels will provide power during the day while also charging your batteries. Then you will use your batteries at night and recharge when the sun come sup. You will have cloudy days so a generator is usually recommended to stay away from using municipal electricity.

Metering is when you offset your electricity bill by the amount of energy your solar PV sends back to the grid. During times you generate more than you use, the excess is exported; when you need more electricity than you generate, you draw from the grid. Feed-ins are slightly different: you sell the electricity you generate (or the excess) to the utility/distributor at a fixed rate (which may differ from what you pay for electricity you consume). This may be a separate payment or credit. These options are not available anywhere in SA and depend on where you are and what arrangement the area has with municipality.

Your requirements are the most important factor when sizing a solar installation. You must answer the following questions for an accurate template: 1. Do you consume more during the day or at night? 2. Will you run equipment with large requirements? 3. Do you need a grid-tie, hybrid, or off-grid inverter? 4. Do you just want to save or do you want to cut off municipal power? All these questions largely determine the size if the system you will need. That is why you should give your installer all the information while requesting quotations.

The payback period depends from site to site, but with the prices of solar products decreasing and the cost of electricity increasing, the payback periods become significantly smaller. It is safe to say that a system will be paid for within a year or two.

By using Solar instead of the grid you now rely on green, sustainable energy instead of electricity generated from coal mines which are harmful to the environment. You will also use your batteries and panels whenever there is loadshedding, cutting the dependence in diesel generators significantly.