Remote communities · Battery storage
Remote community battery storage: less diesel, fewer fuel runs, steadier power
Fewer litres, fewer fuel runs, and local people trained to run it.
Every litre a remote generator burns has travelled a long way to get there. Solar and battery storage cut the litres, the deliveries and the engine hours, and give the community more control over its own power. We size systems from your fuel records, train local operators, and plan the monitoring and spares before anything ships.
- Go/no-go in 5 business days
- Fixed-fee study you own
- Training included
What solar and batteries already do in remote Australia
These projects belong to other organisations. They show what the technology delivers in remote conditions.
| Project | System | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cockatoo Springs, WA (Horizon Power) | 20 kW solar, 100 kWh battery, diesel backup | 63% of the community's power from solar; about 35,000 litres of diesel saved a year |
| Chile Creek, WA (Horizon Power) | 16 kW solar, 50 kWh battery | 46% of power from solar; about 15,000 litres of diesel saved a year |
| Borroloola, NT (Ngardara Community Microgrid) | 2.1 MW solar, 1.8 MW / 6.6 MWh battery | Funded in 2026, targeting up to 80% renewable and 1.2 million litres of diesel saved each year |
Sources: pv magazine Australia, First Nations Clean Energy Network, ABC News.
How we deliver in remote places
Getting it there
Keeping it running
Local skills
Spares and service
Your generators
Community say
Who this is for
- Community organisations and Aboriginal corporations planning their own power
- Shire councils running remote towns and facilities
- Pastoral stations, roadhouses and tourism operators running on generators
- Clinics, schools and ranger bases that can't afford outages
- Utilities and contractors delivering remote power programs
Funding
Remote energy projects often draw on government funding. In April 2026, ARENA's Regional Microgrids Program ($125 million, including $75 million for First Nations communities) funded microgrids at Borroloola and Ltyentye Apurte (pv magazine Australia). The WA Government's $27 million program is bringing solar and batteries to 21 remote Aboriginal communities (pv magazine Australia). We build the technical case and business case a funding application needs.
What to send us
- 12 months of fuel deliveries or invoices
- Generator sizes, ages and running hours
- Any solar on site
- The loads that matter most: clinic, store, water, school
More reading: How remote Australian communities are using BESS to replace diesel
Site savings estimator
Want a rough number first? The site savings estimator has presets for councils, mine sites and remote communities.
Remote community FAQs
How much diesel can solar and batteries save?
Two of Horizon Power's WA communities get 46% and 63% of their power from solar with batteries, and Borroloola is targeting up to 80% renewable. Your result depends on your loads, solar space and generator setup. The go/no-go and the study work that out.
What happens at night or in a run of cloudy days?
The generators stay on site as backup, and the control system starts them when they're needed.
Who looks after the system?
Operator training is included, and the system is monitored remotely. We agree a spares and service plan before it ships.
Can the power run with the generators off?
That needs grid-forming inverters and the right controls. We confirm it for your site in the study.
Is funding available?
Programs open and close through the year, so we check what's available when your study starts.
What's the smallest system you supply?
Our smallest is a 233 kWh cabinet. If your load is much smaller, we'll tell you if a smaller system suits you better.
Find out if a battery stacks up at your site. One page, five business days, no cost.