Off-Grid Living in Rochedale

Just South of Brisbane, in suburban bushland, is a home that is hiding a seriously mammoth solar system that generates enough power to keep a small town running.

Not a newcomer to renewable energy, our customer had previously had a solar system installed on his property. After 10 years of daily use, plus some hefty additions to their property, our customer knew it was time for an upgrade; so they reached out to Springers Solar to get the job done.

Luke Main, an off-grid energy expert at Springers Solar, worked closely with the customer to determine the long-term energy needs of the property and formulate a solution that would support those goals. After careful consideration, it was determined that the property needed not one, but two separate solar systems to keep the property running - one to power the primary residence and another to power the large horse stables.

Despite being so close to Brisbane and grid-connected lines, our customer wished to prioritise energy independence and maintain an off-grid, self-sufficient energy lifestyle. With this goal in mind, it was essential to design a system that would not only maximise solar energy generation but also maximise battery storage capacity. 

To achieve this, 126 x Canadian Solar 440W TOPCon N-Type Modules were installed on the primary buildings, with 96 panels adorning the roof of the main house and the remaining 30 installed on the granny flat. The array totals 55.4kW for the living quarters on the property.

This array is paired with 2 x 7.5kW Selectronic Inverter Chargers, chosen for their reliable power conversion, coupled with 3 x Fronius 10kW GEN24 Primo Selectronic Certified Inverters. This enhanced setup operates on an AC-coupled configuration, empowering it to handle substantial AC loads throughout the day, including power-intensive devices such as air conditioning and home office setups.

In addition to the AC-coupled array, this system also includes a DC-coupled array. This is achieved by using 4 x AERL Coolmax 70Amp MPPTs. The AC and DC coupled arrays work simultaneously to ensure that the 40 x PowerPlus LiFe 4838P 3.8kWh Battery Modules are fully charged, and the customer can rely on being able to utilise the full 152kWh of capacity at all times.  

This efficient system design was then paralleled in the system for the stables on the property. With smaller electricity needs, the stables opted for a downsized version of the first system. 34 x Canadian Solar 440W TOPCon N-Type Modules were added to the roof of the stables, resulting in a 14.9kW array.

This array was paired with a 7.5kW Selectronic Inverter Charger and Fronius 10kW GEN24 Primo Selectronic Certified Inverter to form the AC-coupled array for the second system. The DC-coupled array was achieved by using one AERL Coolmax 70Amp MPPT. These arrays are then coupled with 14 x PowerPlus LiFe 4838P 3.8kWh Battery Modules and provide 53.2kWh of battery capacity for the stables.

To ensure easy, live monitoring of both systems for our customer, we also included a Selectronic SP Pro Current Shunt and a Select.Live Monitor at each site. The shunt collects all the vital information about the system, and relays it back to the Select.Live Monitor for the customer to review. The Select.Live Monitor will also upload the system data to the Selectronic monitoring portal so the customer can view the system and access the system vitals remotely.

With this monumental system upgrade, our customer’s entire property can function completely off-grid. With an over-sized solar array and large battery capacity for each system, this property can efficiently run on self-generated energy even during inclement weather.  

The highest-quality components with industry-leading warranties were selected to construct these systems to ensure the customer had complete peace of mind. Committing to an off-grid system is a considerable investment, so choosing the right components is crucial. This system is not only covered by the power and performance warranties of each component, but is also backed by Springers Solar’s 10-year workmanship warranty.  For all our customers, this assures that their systems and components are protected for years to come by one of Queensland’s longest-standing and most experienced solar companies.