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The Nature Reserve strives to uphold the idea of ‘Take only photos, Leave only footprints!’, and when it comes to our carbon footprint we want to keep it as low as possible. We are entirely off the grid being powered by the sun and using only borehole water in a sustainable way. The 1 000 Ha of Spekboom growing on the reserve acts as a massive carbon sink, but we also do our utmost to ensure that emissions, waste and byproducts of the lodge and human activities on the reserve are kept as low as possible. All waste from the lodges kitchen is donated to pig farming initiatives in the local community of rural Zoar.
We avoid one-use-plastics as much as possible, and separate glass from other consumables which is recycled off-site. Wood burnt during winter months in the lodge and chalet fireplaces are bought from a local alien clearing project. We like our environment and the colour Green and hope that our guests assist us in maintaining this approach by their activities on the Reserve so that future generations can continue to enjoy the untouched wilderness that is Bosch Luys Kloof.
Bosch Luys Kloof contributes towards the funding of a soup kitchen based in rural Zoar and Amalienstein on the R62. The Zoar Development Forum run by Hendrik Barry (and the assistants of his Non-Profit Organization) purchases all the basic ingredients including gas for cooking at the beginning of every month and through their feeding scheme feed between 300 and 600 children and adults from the community per day, on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Water quality was tested for harmful bacterial quantities per unit size (100ml) that are acceptable for human and animal consumption and passed with flying colours. There are also no harmful trace elements in large enough quantities to pose a health risk in any way. The water is potable. It passes the NHLS requirements with flying colours and there are no sources upstream of the borehole that could potentially contaminate the ground water as we basically fall within the upper reaches of the catchment
Boshluyskloof Reserve has electricity generated from the sun only. The Solar Panels either supply the daytime loads directly or it stores the surplus energy to be utilised when there is not enough sun energy in Lithium Batteries.
What are the benefits of Solar, especially in the reserve/ farm environment?
The off-grid solar system does not have to be connected to the grid. It saves the very expensive cost to install a new overhead line and transformer to connect the lodge to the grid. It reduces the aesthetic and environmental impact overhead cables and transformers leave.
It does not require any fossil fuel to generate the energy for the reserve, which saves time, money and effort to procure, transport and store the fuel.It does not have any emissions in other words no air pollution. Fossil fuel air pollution includes gasses that contributes to global warming.The system does not create sound pollution like diesel generators which is especially important for places like the reserve that is integrated in nature.
The system is scalable and can be tailored to any future requirements. There is therefore no new development cost required other than adding more equipment when the need arises.
We are blessed today that the solar solutions are coming to maturity and that we can provide a place like Boshluyskloof Reserve with electricity generated from the sun only. The Solar Panels either supply the daytime loads directly or it stores the surplus energy to be utilised when there is not enough sun energy in Lithium Batteries.
What are the benefits of Solar, especially in the reserve/ farm environment?
The off-grid solar system does not have to be connected to the grid. It saves the very expensive cost to install a new overhead line and transformer to connect the lodge to the grid. It reduces the aesthetic and environmental impact overhead cables and transformers leave.
It does not require any fossil fuel to generate the energy for the reserve, which saves time, money and effort to procure, transport and store the fuel.
It does not have any emissions in other words no air pollution. Fossil fuel air pollution includes gasses that contributes to global warming.
The system does not create sound pollution like diesel generators which is especially important for places like the reserve that is integrated in nature.
The system is scalable and can be tailored to any future requirements. There is therefore no new development cost required other than adding more equipment when the need arises.
What is the size of the system used on the farm, what type of panels are being used on the farm?
45 KVA Victron System with Mono Panels from Canadian Solar.
The Victron APP is a comprehensive monitoring tool which shows the performance of the system in real time and in other time buckets to evaluate the performance of the system. It puts the supply and demand in perspective and you can with a sigle glance determine how much energy is produced by the sun, what is being consumed and how much energy is stored in the battery.
The app also provides the installer the option to change parameters remotely. In addition, it provides alerts for potential issues that might arise for proactive engagement.
