Background
Exeter University, located in Devon, UK, is renowned for both academic excellence and elite sports programs. Its expansive outdoor sports facilities, including high-performance football and rugby pitches, demand constant care to maintain world-class turf conditions. Autonomous mowers, monitoring sensors, and irrigation systems must operate reliably every day.
However, one remote pitch site lacked utility grid access, making dependable power a critical challenge. Traditional diesel generators were noisy, costly, and required frequent service — impractical for a university setting prioritizing sustainability and efficiency. The team needed a solution that could operate independently, withstand winter cold, and ensure uninterrupted maintenance operations.
The Challenge
The university needed a solution that could:
i. Operate fully off-grid
ii. Support daily charging of robotic mowers
iii. Provide reliable power in cold, damp UK winters
iiii. Minimize maintenance and operational oversight
Traditional generators were noisy, costly, and required frequent attention — not suitable for a sustainable campus environment.
The Solution
Working with Callidus Trade, Exeter University installed two compact, solar-powered charging stations featuring:
i. Pytes V5A lithium batteries (5.12 kWh each)
ii. Victron 1600 Multiplus 2 inverter/chargers
iii. Solar arrays converting sunlight into off-grid energy
Why Pytes V5?
Pytes V5 was chosen as the core of the system for its reliability in the UK climate:
i. Built-in Heating – ensures mowers charge consistently even in cold, wet winters
ii. Advanced BMS – provides safe, intelligent control and battery management
iii. Vibration-Tested Durability – engineered for outdoor, remote environments
These features make V5 ideal for the UK, where fluctuating temperatures, rain, and damp conditions can challenge off-grid systems.
The Results
i. Fully off-grid charging for all autonomous mowers
ii. Reliable operation throughout the UK’s cold and wet winters
iii. Reduced operational maintenance and no dependency on generators
iiii. Continuous, automated pitch maintenance
Exeter University now benefits from a self-sustaining, reliable maintenance cycle, powered entirely by solar energy and Pytes lithium storage.
