Queensland trial to power a remote farm with solar and battery “pod”

A Belgian-made renewable power “pod” combining solar, battery storage and a generator will be installed on a farm in north-west Queensland, as part of a state and local government-backed bid to offer more reliable and affordable electricity for rural properties.

The Intech Energy Container arrived at Port of Townsville last week, as the centre-piece of a one-year, $100,000 trial backed by the Queensland government, McKinlay Shire Council, and MITEZ – a regional development organisation covering seven local government areas in the state’s north.

The pod will supply a yet-to-be selected McKinlay Shire grazier with an off-grid renewable energy supply and in conjunction with Ergon Energy, measure the benefits, comparing cost and reliability of supply to that offered by standard Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) network.

“SWER lines span hundreds of properties across North West Queensland that could benefit from this independent power source,” said McKinlay Shire Council Mayor Belinda Murphy.

It could also benefit the network, too, which in McKinley Shire alone oversees 698km of Single Wire Earth Return lines, linking 154 customers.