Mooigezicht is a table grape farm in De Doorns, run by the Rossouw family. The farm focuses on producing seedless grapes exclusively for export, and it is clear that innovation plays a central role in every decision made here. Francois Rossouw Jnr (2025 Agri Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year) is deeply committed to integrating technology into his operations — not for the sake of novelty, but to ensure long-term growth. His latest step in that direction is the implementation of a large-scale renewable energy system designed and implemented by 2Zero50.

The farm previously operated with 20 Eskom points, each adding to the enormous, fixed costs of their combined electricity bill. With the new system, that number has been reduced to just one — a 315 kVA point — resulting in significant financial saving from reduced fixed costs alone. Mooigezicht’s theoretical peak load was calculated at 950kW, with an expected real peak of 670kW, meaning a large portion of that demand must now be met independently by alternative sources. To achieve this, the installed system includes 1152 solar panels, delivering a total capacity of 691.2kWp, and 100 lithium-ion batteries providing 1433.6kWh of storage. The core of the system is housed in a containerised solution, incorporating two 500kW hybrid inverters designed to work seamlessly across solar, battery, grid and generator inputs.

To support the electrical infrastructure across Mooigezicht’s farming operation, 10 km of medium-voltage line was installed, connecting 19 step-down transformers. This extensive electrical backbone allows the farm to operate as a full private microgrid — not just generating its own power but also distributing it across multiple operational zones with precision and stability.

A key part of the system design is resilience. With a single Eskom point remaining, it was critical to ensure Mooigezicht is never left without power. Two diesel generators — one rated at 500 kVA and the other at 250 kVA — were integrated as backup power sources. These generators are programmed to start only under two specific circumstances. The first is during normal operation, in the unlikely event that the batteries are depleted and the remaining Eskom connection cannot carry the full load. In this case, one generator will kick in to help carry the remaining demand. The second is in the event of a complete system failure — for example, if the inverters shut down unexpectedly. In that rare case, both generators will automatically start to keep the entire farm powered and operational.

Another important feature of the system is the way power is managed across the medium-voltage line. Energising a long MV line with 19 transformers all at once can cause high inrush current, therefore Mooigezicht’s system uses MV reclosers (switchgear) to energise the line in stages. The step-up transformer is energised first, followed by one section of the MV line, and then the next. This staged approach protects the system and also makes it possible to energise the entire MV network using just the generators, if needed.

The result is a system that provides stable, reliable electricity for Mooigezicht’s entire operation, while significantly reducing reliance on the grid. The financial benefit is twofold — Mooigezicht cuts out a major portion of its electricity bill by avoiding peak-hour grid use and buying less units from Eskom, while also eliminating the cost of maintaining multiple Eskom connection points.

In his Agri Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year interview, Francois shares that his team is already exploring ways to expand their electrical ecosystem. One of the first steps will be replacing some of the farm’s bakkies with electric motorbikes, which will be charged directly from solar power. They plan to closely monitor the system’s performance, with the goal of eventually expanding it to power worker housing. Looking further ahead, there is a long-term vision to transition some of the farm’s heavier vehicles — such as tractors — to electric alternatives, depending on how the technology and operational needs evolve. The system was designed with this kind of future growth in mind and can be scaled as required.

Mooigezicht is a clear example of what’s possible when a farm not only invests in solar but rethinks its entire energy strategy. For 2Zero50, this project reflects our commitment to going beyond installation and helping farms unlock the full potential of a cleaner, smarter electrical system.