Solar power
The solar panels produce electricity during daylight hours. That electricity can supply current loads and charge the battery.
OFF-GRID SOLAR FOR FARMS AND RURAL PROPERTIES
Off-Grid Solar for Farms and Rural Properties
Reliable electricity is essential on a rural property.
From household appliances and water pumps to refrigeration, workshops and agricultural machinery, a power failure can quickly become disruptive and expensive.
Solar Link Australia designs off-grid solar and battery systems for farms, homesteads, lifestyle properties, agricultural facilities and rural businesses throughout Australia.
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01 / INDEPENDENT POWER
Avoid the Cost of Extending Grid Power
Connecting a remote property to the electricity network may involve:
For properties located a considerable distance from existing infrastructure, a purpose-designed stand-alone power system may provide a practical alternative.
Instead of paying to extend the grid, an off-grid system creates an independent electricity supply using solar panels, battery storage and generator backup.
SPECIALIST SYSTEM DESIGN
Rural Loads Require Specialist Design
Farm power systems often have more complex electrical demands than standard residential systems.
RURAL POWER
Designed around your property
02
POWERING YOUR PROPERTY
A rural off-grid system may need to operate:
Bore pumps
Transfer pumps
Pressure pumps
Irrigation systems
Cool rooms
Refrigeration
Dairy equipment
Livestock equipment
Workshop machinery
Welders
Air compressors
Electric fencing equipment
Shed lighting
Communications equipment
Homestead appliances
Heat-pump hot water
Air conditioning
Single-phase motors
Three-phase motors
Motors and pumps can draw a large starting current even when their normal running consumption appears relatively low. These surge loads must be considered when selecting the inverter, battery and generator.
03 / HOMESTEAD POWER
Off-Grid Solar for Homesteads
An off-grid homestead system can provide electricity for both the family residence and selected farm infrastructure.
The design may include separate circuits for:
- Household appliances
- Water pumping
- Workshops
- Machinery sheds
- Refrigeration
- Stock equipment
- Security systems
- Communications equipment
Where practical, flexible agricultural loads can be scheduled to operate during strong solar production. This reduces the amount of electricity drawn from the battery.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Solar, storage and loads working together.
04 / SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
Single-Phase and Three-Phase Off-Grid Systems
Solar Link Australia can design both single-phase and three-phase stand-alone power systems.
Three-phase off-grid power may be required for:
01
Large pumps
02
Compressors
03
Commercial refrigeration
04
Workshop machinery
05
Agricultural processing
06
Irrigation equipment
07
Commercial sheds
08
Heavy-duty motors
Three-phase systems require careful assessment of phase balance, motor starting requirements and generator compatibility.
Each commercial or agricultural project is designed around the equipment that will actually operate at the site.
05 / WATER & IRRIGATION
Water Pumping and Irrigation
Water pumping can represent a large portion of a rural property’s electricity consumption.
The system design should consider:
01
Pump motor rating
02
Starting current
03
Daily operating time
04
Required water volume
05
Pump head
06
Bore depth
07
Seasonal irrigation demand
08
Water-storage capacity
09
Whether pumping can occur during daylight
Pumping water into a storage tank during periods of high
solar production can be more efficient than using battery
energy to operate the pump overnight.
06 / ENERGY SOURCES
Solar Panels, Batteries and Generator Integration
A rural off-grid power system generally uses three primary energy sources.
Battery storage
The battery stores surplus solar electricity for use overnight, during poor weather and when demand exceeds solar production.
Backup generator
The generator supports the site during prolonged low-solar conditions, unusually high consumption or maintenance.
A compatible control system manages energy flow between these sources.
Where suitable, automatic generator start and stop functionality can provide dependable backup without constant manual intervention.
07 / SOLAR ARRAY DESIGN
Ground-Mounted Solar for Farms
Rural properties often provide greater flexibility when selecting the location of a solar array.
A ground-mounted solar array may be appropriate where:
- Roof space is limited
- Existing roofs are shaded
- Farm buildings are structurally unsuitable
- A large array is required
- The best solar position is away from the buildings
- Easier cleaning and maintenance access is desirable
SITE CONSIDERATIONS
The proposed location should be assessed for:
Solar exposure
Soil conditions
Cable distance
Flood risk
Livestock access
Machinery access
Vegetation growth
Future development plans
Protective fencing may be required where livestock or machinery could access the solar array.
08 / FUTURE PLANNING
Planning for Future Farm Expansion
A rural off-grid system should allow for foreseeable changes to the property.
A larger bore pump
New irrigation equipment
Additional accommodation
A second dwelling
New machinery
A cool room
Expanded refrigeration
Electric vehicle charging
A new workshop
Livestock equipment
Conversion from LPG to electric appliances
Planning for future demand during the initial design may
be more economical than replacing undersized equipment later.
09 / REMOTE VISIBILITY
Remote Monitoring for Rural Properties
Remote monitoring can provide valuable information about:
Solar production
Battery state of charge
Energy consumption
Generator operation
System warnings
Historical performance
This is particularly useful for remote installations where attending the property may involve significant travel.
REMOTE SYSTEM
● ONLINE
SYSTEM
Performance information available remotely
10
START YOUR PROJECT
Request a Rural Off-Grid Assessment
Tell Solar Link Australia about your property, buildings, pumps, machinery and expected operating hours.
Our team can assess your requirements and prepare a tailored off-grid solar and battery solution for your farm or rural property.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can off-grid solar operate a bore pump? +
Yes. The pump’s running power, starting current, operating duration and water-storage strategy must be assessed. Where possible, pumping during daylight can reduce battery use.
Can an off-grid system provide three-phase power? +
Yes. Three-phase stand-alone power systems can be designed for larger agricultural and commercial loads. A detailed equipment and load assessment is required.
Can multiple farm buildings share one off-grid system? +
Potentially. The distance between buildings, cable size, voltage drop, load distribution and future expansion must be considered. In some situations, separate distributed power systems may be more practical.
Can an existing generator be used? +
Possibly. The generator’s output, voltage regulation, phase configuration, control system and overall condition must be assessed for compatibility.
SOLAR LINK AUSTRALIA
Reliable power for where the grid doesn't reach.
Solar Link Australia designs off-grid solar and battery systems around the real energy requirements of Australian farms and rural properties.
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