Someone at Defy had to throw away one too many steaks when their freezer defrosted, or maybe it’s just a coincidence that the company recently launched a series of ‘Solar Off-Grid’ fridges and chest freezers which it hopes will alleviate some of the pressures of load shedding – and keep those steaks in the freezer safe.
The idea is a simple one, strap a couple of solar panels to a new fridge/freezer, hook up a battery and boom: it’s off the grid. As convenient as that sounds, customers looking to pick up one of the new units are only paying Defy for the cold box and a free ‘smart control box’. You’ll have to get the rest – battery and solar panels – elsewhere.
Eskom, be gone
Defy launched the new Solar Off-Grid range at Johannesburg’s Victoria Yards and described the launch as the company’s largest to date.
“For the immediate future at least, solar power remains the most viable option,” says Defy’s CEO, Mustafa Soylu. “We believe our Solar Off-Grid fridges and freezers are real game-changers for South Africa and the continent at large, as they solve both the issue of accessibility to power, as well as the issue of clean energy. The households and businesses that we will be reaching is only the first step in demonstrating that solar is the more future-fit solution to better energy on the African continent,” he added.
Defy isn’t just talking about reaching deep-pocketed customers. The brand created the Solar Off-Grid offshoot to help those less fortunate around Africa – while charging those who can afford it a pretty penny on the side. It’s doing so in partnership with Taking Care of Business (TCB), a non-profit, providing these off-grid solutions to the residents of Umlazi in Durban.
“The Solar Community project, which we’re launching with Defy, is an excellent example of a purposeful business giving back to its community. With the help of Solar Off-Grid products, our beneficiaries in Umlazi can access energy and cost-effective refrigeration, expand their businesses, and better serve their communities,” says Tracey Gilmore, TCB’s COO.
Cooler fridges will prevail
As for the fridges and freezers themselves, they won’t be coming cheap. Defy has slapped a R10,000 price tag on the 303l fridge – though we’ve found a listing for R100 less at Hirsch’s. The 254l chest freezer is similarly priced, coming in at R9,000 RRP, though, again, Hirsch’s is selling the unit for R8,900.
That’s the price to take your refrigeration needs completely out of Eskom’s clutches, and save a couple of bucks here and there, too. But before that happy day arrives, customers will need to pick up their own set of solar panels and a battery to boot. Defy recommends those living inland opt for three 550W panels, while those on the coast will want three 700W panels. Oh, and a 200Ah 12V lithium-ion battery.
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If you can stomach the steep entry fee, however, it’ll all be worth it in the long run. Defy reckons these devices — paired with the necessary panels and battery — will last for up to three days when it isn’t drawing any vitamin D on overcast days or at night. The disconnect between the device and Eskom will save on your monthly electricity bill. And if need be, the devices can be plugged into a main power source, turning it into a hybrid model during the rainy season.
The smart control box included in your purchase handles all the power delivery from the Sun into your choice of battery, but that isn’t all it’s good for. Defy silently mentioned that it is sporting two USB-A ports, effectively making it a glorified power bank for when the lights are out. We’re not complaining. At that price, we’ll take anything we can get.