In South Africa’s evolving energy environment, the commercial and industrial sectors are increasingly adopting hybrid energy systems – an intelligent mix of solar PV, battery storage, industrial generators and the national grid (Eskom). While the focus often falls on renewables and grid alternatives, two components are emerging as strategic assets within this system:
- The industrial generator now playing a load-sharing rather than backup role
- The active voltage conditioner (AVC) – crucial technology for ensuring power quality and system protection
Together, Elegen generators and ABB’s AVCs, integrated with ComAp hybrid system controls, are transforming energy reliability and cost efficiency – not just as a way to cope but as a competitive advantage for South African industry.
Elegen generators in hybrid load sharing: No longer just backup
Within modern hybrid systems, energy is drawn based on real-time efficiency:
- Solar power daytime loads
- Eskom’s supplementary power when available
- Elegen generators now participating strategically in load sharing rather than remaining idle until an outage
Instead of being a financial burden, the generator – when integrated with ComAp smart controls – can offset peak grid use, reduce diesel runtime and significantly lower operational costs. Generators are dynamic players in ensuring operational continuity in high-demand, 24/7 industrial environments.
The critical role of ABB’s AVC in power stability
Modern industrial operations require stable, high-quality power. Unfortunately, even with hybrid systems, voltage sags, surges and harmonic distortion can cause:
- Equipment malfunctions
- PLC and drive errors
- Downtime or quality issues in sensitive production lines
This is where the ABB AVCs play a vital role through:
- Instant voltage correction
- Surge protection shielding sensitive equipment from harmful spikes or transient surges
- Harmonic filtering
- Load balancing regulating voltage across phases, particularly important during load shifts in hybrid systems
By integrating an AVC into the hybrid energy setup, manufacturers gain a protective buffer that ensures consistent power quality – essential for automation-heavy industries like food processing, packaging and cold storage.

Efficiency, reliability and sustainability in one system
In today’s industrial environment, power quality and uptime are non-negotiable. The integration of Elegen generators as active load participants and AVCs for voltage protection within hybrid systems ensures that manufacturers achieve both.
The hybrid energy system has transformed from a mere backup plan into a strategic asset that:
- Saves money
- Increases system reliability
- Protects equipment and operations
- Contributes to national grid stability
As more industries recognise these benefits, this model is quickly becoming the new standard in powering South African industrial operations sustainably and profitably.
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