100% Solar for a Satellite Site
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- 3 min read
CASE STUDY – FPS20-10
CULCAIRN, NEW SOUTH WALES | 10 November 2024 - 10 January 2025
A temporary satellite compound near Culcairn required reliable power for site offices, worker amenities and workshop facilities throughout a 61-day deployment.
With no practical grid connection available, the site would typically have relied on a diesel generator operating continuously. Instead, Future Power Systems deployed an FPS20-10 hybrid power system to meet the compound’s changing energy demand through solar generation and battery storage.
For all 61 days, the site operated on 100% solar and battery power.
The generator never started. Not once.
This meant zero diesel use, zero refuelling and zero generator runtime, avoiding an estimated 3,660 litres of diesel.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Project Name | Culcairn Satellite Site Compound |
Location | Culcairn, New South Wales |
Product Deployed | FPS20-10 |
Application | Temporary site offices, worker amenities and workshop facilities |
Deployment Period | 10 November 2024 – 10 January 2025 |
Project Duration | 61 days |
Site Condition | Remote, off-grid location with high solar irradiance |
Diesel Generator Comparison | 35 kVA diesel generator |
WHAT WAS POWERED
The system supplied power to:
Two 12 m × 6 m lunchrooms
One 12 m × 2.5 m mobile site office
A toilet block
One 10 ft containerised workshop
These facilities required dependable power for lighting, office equipment, amenities and normal daily site operations.
THE CHALLENGE
The satellite compound was located on a remote construction site in the Southern Riverina, where mains electricity was unavailable.
A conventional temporary-power arrangement would have required a diesel generator to operate continuously or for extended periods each day. This would have increased fuel use, refuelling requirements, servicing costs, noise and site emissions.
The proposed conventional generator was expected to consume approximately 60 litres of diesel each day.
THE FPS SOLUTION
Future Power Systems deployed an FPS20-10 hybrid power system configured to supply the compound with power from solar generation and stored battery energy.
High solar irradiance during the deployment allowed the system to generate and store sufficient energy to meet the site’s requirements without assistance from the backup diesel generator.
The generator remained available for additional security but was not required at any stage of the project.
PERFORMANCE OUTCOME
Across the deployment, the FPS20-10 achieved:
PERFORMANCE MEASURE | FPS20-10 | 35kVA DIESEL GENERATOR |
Generator runtime | 0 hours | 1,464 hours |
Generator starts | 0 | Continuous operation |
Diesel consumed | 0 litres | 3,660 litres |
Estimated fuel cost | $0 | $11,712 |
The FPS20-10 powered the Culcairn compound for the full 61-day deployment without a single generator start or litre of diesel.
Compared with a conventional generator that consumes an estimated 60 litres of diesel per day, the system avoided approximately 3,660 litres of diesel and $11,712 in fuel costs.
The FPS20-10 powered the Culcairn satellite compound for the entire deployment without using any diesel. Despite the generator remaining available as a backup, the combination of strong solar generation and battery storage met the site’s full energy demand. This eliminated generator runtime, fuel use, refuelling and associated operational emissions.
RELIABLE POWER WITHOUT CONTINUOUS DIESEL OPERATION
The Culcairn deployment demonstrates that appropriately sized hybrid power systems can supply remote construction facilities without relying on continuous generator operation.
Future Power Systems designs and manufactures hybrid power systems for temporary, remote and off-grid applications across Australia.
Planning power for a remote office or temporary construction compound? Speak with Future Power Systems about a system configured for your site load and operating conditions.
NEED A SIMILAR SYSTEM FOR YOUR SITE?
Tell us about your site location, load requirements and project duration. Future Power Systems can recommend the most suitable hybrid power system for hire, purchase or configured deployment.
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