Off-Grid Solar Systems

Off-grid power is a power-producing system that isn’t connected to the main electricity grid, such as Western Power or Horizon Power. With an off-grid power system, it means you’re producing your own power supply, using a renewable energy source like solar, wind, or hydro.

In this case, we’re talking about off-grid systems which typically consist of a range of solar panels, to capture the sun’s energy, a solar batter to store and supply your power, and an inverter that controls the input and output of the power your solar panels generate.

At Statewide Power we have the experience, expertise, and access to high quality Australian-made products to install off-grid energy in all kinds of residential, commercial, industrial,  agricultural, and mining installations.

You can expect to spend anywhere from $25,000 up to $100,000, or more, depending on the size of your system, if you wish to live off the grid in WA.

Installing an off-grid solar system can be a sizeable up-front investment—but one with many benefits.

When installing an off-grid system, you’ll need:

• Off-grid inverters
• Lithium batteries
• The right number of solar panels to generate power for your property
• A backup generator

It’s all about what your property needs. So at Statewide Power, we can create a bespoke system that suits your energy load, with the ability to expand the system at a later date if your power usage increases.

We design and deliver off-grid solar systems for both residential and commercial properties. After all, we understand the complexity of living in remote areas of WA. When connected to an ageing energy grid, you face regular power interruptions, and long periods of no electricity.

Installing off-grid energy for your home empowers you to become independent. It helps you mitigate power failures, save money on rising power costs, and do your part to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

A 10KW solar system is usually large enough to provide power for an average household. However, for those with larger households, or farms or remote stations, we work with you to design and implement a larger system that supports you in getting off the grid.

On average, Australian households typically have a daily electricity consumption between 12kWh and 16kWh. As a rule of thumb, a 1kWh solar power system can generate around 5kWh of energy at Perth’s latitude—however, this all depends on whether the sun is shining. So to cover your daily electricity usage, and to live truly off the grid, you’ll generally need a 10kW system. This features around 24 solar panels.

For more in-depth information, see How Much Does a 10kW Off-Grid Solar System Cost?

Yes, we design bespoke commercial off-grid power solutions in Western Australia for small to large businesses, farms, remote stations, resorts, and mining operations. Off-grid solar systems are great for businesses operating in remote areas, or that want to reduce their operating costs—or for those who want to create a greener footprint.

One of the big benefits of installing an off-grid solar system for your business is the certainty around costs. After the initial investment, you then enjoy a stable and predictable monthly repayment for your system instead of having to guess your monthly power operating costs.

Off-grid means that you’re not connected to the power grid at all. You will have your own solar panels, batteries, and a generator. And, as you’re independent of the grid, this means you’re free from any price increases that may arise with it.

An on-grid system means that you’ve got a solar power system, but you’re still connected to the electricity grid. Your panels produce power when the sun is shining, which gets consumed in your home. Any power that your home doesn’t use gets sold to the grid (at a very reduced rate) which you have to buy back again from your electricity provider when the sun goes down.

A hybrid system means that you’re still connected to the grid, but you predominately rely on solar panels. For example, your PV panels produce energy, that then gets used, and any remaining power gets stored in your batteries. Then when the sun sets, you property consumes the electricity stored in your batteries, and once these are empty you then import power from the grid.

It really depends on what you want to achieve with your solar system.

Installing a solar system, but remaining on-grid, is the cheaper solar option. It means that you can still take advantage of grid power, and you don’t have to buy an expensive battery back-up system to store excess energy. However, you do still have to pay for any power that you use from the grid.

Being off-grid means you’re not connected in any way to your power company or the local electricity grid, and you’re completely independent in your power generation. You don’t have to deal with power outages or rising electricity costs. But to achieve this, you’ll need to invest in solar batteries and a back-up generator set. The good news though is that the price of lithium batteries has been decreasing in recent years, making them a more attractive option.

And with most solar systems paying for themselves within 8-12 years—and with a lifespan of 20-25 years—it’s an investment into a cost-effective future.

Whether you can expand your system capacity at a later all depends on the type of battery you choose. In most cases, the solar component of your power system can be easily expanded (within utility restrictions if you’re still on-grid, and within design rules if you’re off grid)—it’s the battery capacity that can sometimes be tricky or expensive to expand.

So if you’re considering expanding your battery capacity, it’s important to choose the right system at the outset. Systems like the Power Plus Energy or Gen Z are extremely easy to expand upon, as they’re designed to be modular. But be aware: if battery technology changes between your original installation and when you choose to expand, the original product may no longer be available, making the process much more difficult. So it’s best to choose the correct system size when first looking in to an off-grid solar system.

Yes, you can. But there are a few things to consider. Some battery systems may only be compatible with a select few inverters, so we would need to find out what your existing inverter is, and then advise which battery systems are compatible.

At Statewide Power, we provide a range of solar battery systems to help you get the most out of your off grid system. Get in touch with our friendly team to discuss a solution for your property.