Case Study: AEM reduces shore power use and boosts eTRU performance with Merlin Solar

AEM cuts shore power to 48 kWh/day with Merlin Solar

AEM, a company operating in refrigerated transport, faced the challenge of making electric transport refrigeration units (eTRUs) viable for long-haul trips. Without a reliable power source beyond shore power, their eTRUs suffered from limited operating range, high energy consumption, and potential downtime. They partnered with Merlin Solar to find a solution that would extend range and ensure performance in extreme temperatures.

Merlin Solar implemented a solution combining 5.6 kW of their solar panels with a 100 kWh LFP battery on a 48-ft trailer. This system drastically reduced shore power demand from 200 kWh/day to just 48 kWh/day, enabled a 2,000+ mile trip on a single charge, and achieved over 130,000 hours of reliable operation. The results for AEM included saving 2,500 gallons of diesel and 50 tons of GHG emissions per trailer annually, alongside estimated yearly savings of $3,248.

AEM