Saudi Parter
At a Glance: PORTA's free Microgrid Configurator lets you design a complete solar-diesel-storage hybrid power system in under 5 minutes. Choose from 3 input modes, auto-match to real PORTA products, simulate 24-hour energy flows, and download a professional PDF proposal — no engineering background required.
If you operate a remote mine, construction camp, telecom tower, or agricultural facility off the grid, you know the fundamental challenge: how do you size a hybrid power system that minimizes diesel consumption without overspending on solar panels and batteries you do not need?
Get it wrong, and you pay twice. Oversize the solar array and battery bank, and your capital cost balloons with diminishing returns. Undersize them, and the diesel generator still runs too many hours, eating away at the fuel savings that justified the project in the first place.
Traditional microgrid design requires specialized software, an engineering consultant, and weeks of back-and-forth. For many project developers and site managers, that timeline is a dealbreaker. You need a first-pass system sizing — with realistic product options and savings estimates — before you can even decide whether to move forward.
The PORTA Microgrid Configurator is a free, browser-based tool that takes your site’s power requirements and automatically designs a solar-diesel-storage hybrid microgrid matched to real PORTA products. No installation, no signup for basic use, and no engineering degree required.
At its core, the configurator solves three problems that every off-grid operator faces:
Not every user comes with a detailed 24-hour load profile. Some know their average power consumption. Others know their monthly diesel bill and want a quick estimate. The configurator supports three input modes, each progressively more detailed:
You know your average daily electricity consumption and peak power. That is all you need. Enter these two numbers, select your PV deployment method (foldable container, ground-mount, or rooftop), and the configurator instantly sizes a recommended system — including PV capacity, battery storage, and diesel generator rating.
Best for: Project developers, procurement managers, and anyone who needs a rough system size and cost estimate within 60 seconds.
Select your industry (mining, construction, telecom, or agriculture) and pick from pre-built equipment profiles — crushers, conveyors, air conditioners, pumps, lighting, and more. Add equipment with custom quantities and hours of operation. The configurator calculates daily energy consumption automatically.
Best for: Site engineers, EPC contractors, and consultants who want a realistic load estimate based on known equipment lists.
Build a custom load list from scratch, with each piece of equipment defined by power rating, quantity, daily hours, and operating window (daytime, night-time, or continuous). You can also upload an Excel or CSV equipment list for batch import.
Best for: Electrical engineers, system integrators, and anyone who needs a detailed, verifiable load calculation for a specific site.
Once you submit your load profile, the configurator runs a multi-step matching algorithm:
The configurator does not just give you numbers — it produces a complete technical and financial proposal:
One of the most valuable features is the 24-hour energy flow chart. This visualization shows, hour by hour, how your hybrid system actually operates:
The chart overlays your load profile (hourly kW demand), solar generation curve (kW output from your PV array), battery state of charge (SOC %), and diesel generator runtime. You can see at a glance when solar covers the load directly, when excess solar charges the battery, when the battery discharges to cover night demand, and when — and for how long — the diesel generator kicks in.
This is not a generic estimate. The simulation accounts for your specific load profile, PV capacity, battery size, and operating strategy. It answers questions like: ‘How many hours will my diesel generator run per day?’ and ‘Will my battery last through the night?’ with real numbers.
This tool is built for professionals who need data-driven microgrid sizing without the complexity of traditional engineering software:
| Capability | PORTA Configurator | HOMER Pro | Manual Spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to First Result | Under 5 minutes | 2–4 hours | 1–3 days |
| Real Product BOM Output | Yes — 49 BESS configs | No — generic only | Manual selection |
| 24h Energy Flow Simulation | Built-in, interactive | Built-in, detailed | Requires custom build |
| Professional PDF Export | One-click download | Report export | Manual formatting |
| Cost | Free | $500–$4,000/year | Free (your time) |
| Learning Curve | None | Steep | Engineering skill needed |
Let us walk through a realistic example. A construction contractor in Saudi Arabia is setting up a 200-person camp with site offices, air-conditioned accommodation units, a kitchen, and a workshop. The site has no grid connection and will operate for 12 months.
| Output | Result |
|---|---|
| System Topology | Solar-Storage-Diesel (Full Hybrid) |
| PV Capacity | ~300 kWp (foldable container) |
| Battery Storage | ~500 kWh (matched BESS product) |
| Diesel Generator | 150 kW (backup rating) |
| Diesel Savings | ~70% vs. diesel-only |
| Est. CAPEX | Competitive range (see tool for live calculation) |
| Payback Period | Under 3 years (including DG maintenance savings) |
The configurator also shows that with a Green-First operating strategy, solar covers roughly 65% of annual energy, the battery handles night loads, and the diesel generator runs only during occasional cloudy periods or peak-demand events. The 24-hour energy flow chart visually confirms that the battery stays above 20% SOC through the night — meaning reliable operations with minimal diesel backup.
Not every site can accommodate foldable solar containers, and not every project needs them. The configurator supports three deployment modes, each with its own cost structure and product matching logic:
When selecting ground-mount or rooftop modes, the configurator automatically switches from foldable container product matching to custom PV capacity sizing based on your actual requirements. You get an accurate system size without being locked into a container format you do not need.
Every microgrid has trade-offs between capital cost, fuel savings, and battery life. The configurator lets you compare two strategies side by side:
| Aspect | Green-First | Economic |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Maximum diesel displacement | Fastest payback period |
| Battery sizing | Larger (longer autonomy) | Smaller (lower CAPEX) |
| DG runtime | Minimal | Moderate |
| Best for | ESG mandates, carbon credits, high fuel cost sites | Budget-constrained projects, short-term deployments |
Toggle between strategies and watch the system sizing, savings, and payback update instantly. This comparison is often the most valuable part of the configurator for stakeholders who need to weigh environmental goals against capital constraints.
The PORTA Microgrid Configurator provides a professional first-pass sizing and proposal. It is designed to give you a realistic, data-backed starting point for your microgrid project — not to replace detailed site-specific engineering.
The PDF proposal includes a clear disclaimer: the generated configuration is a recommendation based on the inputs you provide. Final system design, equipment selection, and pricing should be confirmed through direct consultation with our engineering team. Every site has unique factors — shading, ambient temperature, altitude, grid interconnection requirements, local regulations — that require professional review.
Think of the configurator as your project’s feasibility study, not its construction drawings. It tells you whether the numbers work and which PORTA products fit, so you can move to detailed engineering with confidence.
Ready to see what a solar-diesel-storage hybrid microgrid looks like for your site? The configurator is free, runs entirely in your browser, and takes less than 5 minutes from start to PDF proposal.
Choose from 3 input modes, auto-match to real PORTA products, simulate 24-hour energy flow, and download a professional PDF proposal — all in one free browser-based tool.
Launch the Configurator →No signup required for basic use. For a custom microgrid proposal, enter your contact details to unlock the full PDF report.
Do I need to create an account to use the configurator?
No. The core configurator is completely free and requires no signup. You can size a system, view the 24-hour simulation, and see the diesel savings analysis without providing any personal information. The PDF download requires your name, company, email, and WhatsApp so our engineering team can follow up with a custom proposal.
Can I upload my own equipment load list?
Yes. In Detailed Load List mode, you can upload an Excel (.xlsx) or CSV file with your equipment list. The configurator automatically parses power ratings, quantities, and operating hours. You can also manually add, remove, or edit equipment entries after upload.
How accurate are the diesel savings and payback estimates?
The estimates are based on realistic assumptions: Saudi/MENA solar irradiance levels, standard diesel generator efficiency curves, and actual PORTA product specifications. Payback calculations use conservative low-end CAPEX pricing and include diesel generator maintenance costs. However, final savings depend on site-specific factors — the configurator provides a first-pass estimate, and our engineering team refines the numbers based on your actual site conditions.
What happens after I download the PDF proposal?
Your contact information and system configuration are securely stored. A PORTA engineering team member will review your proposal and contact you within 24 hours (via WhatsApp or email) to discuss your project in detail, refine the system design, and provide a formal quotation.
Can I use the configurator on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The configurator is fully responsive and works on desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. All features — including the 24-hour energy flow chart and PDF proposal generation — are available on all screen sizes.
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