Solving Unstable Grid Challenges in Remote Areas: Powering a Dairy Farm Off-Grid
In Australia’s rural areas, unstable grid connections are a major challenge, especially for industries that rely on modern technology. Dairy farms, like Willows Pastoral, are increasingly using robotic milking systems from GEA Farm Technologies to improve efficiency, but these systems have demanding power needs. Located just outside of Echuca, Victoria, Willows Pastoral faced frequent power outages and grid instability, which disrupted operations. To solve this PowerPlus Energy, with the help of CE+T Australia has delivered an innovative off-grid power solution, ensuring stable and reliable energy for the farm.
The Problem with Grid Power in Rural Areas
Like many farms in remote locations, Willows Pastoral was dealing with unreliable grid services delivered through a Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) line. This outdated infrastructure could not keep up with the energy demands of the farm’s advanced robotic equipment. Power outages, brownouts, and fluctuations became a regular issue, impacting milk production and stressing both the equipment and the livestock.
For Nigel McNeil, the farmer behind Willows Pastoral, this situation was not sustainable. With the farm operating 24/7, it needed a reliable, continuous power source to keep things running smoothly. The frequent disruptions not only slowed down production but also meant costly downtime for the farm’s sensitive robotic machinery.
The Game-Changing Energy Solution
To address these challenges, PowerPlus Energy, designed a self-managed, off-grid power solution that would make the farm energy independent. Central to this solution are CE+T’s Sierra modules, which play a key role in PowerPlus’s Escape20.
The Escape20 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), powered by CE+T Sierra modules, manages energy from renewable sources such as PV and batteries into stable three-phase power. This power is essential for running the farm’s robotic milking machines and other critical systems. At the same time, the Escape60 Rectifier manages the split phase grid input allowing the battery to charge from the grid when needed, ensuring the farm always has stable, reliable power, regardless of the grid power quality.
With this system in place, Willows Pastoral now runs completely off-grid, powered primarily by solar energy. Battery storage ensures that operations continue seamlessly, even at night or during periods of low sunlight. This is a huge leap forward for the farm, ending its reliance on the unstable grid.
The Benefits of Off-Grid Power
Willows Pastoral has not only gained energy independence but also future-proofed its operations. The farm’s sensitive robotic equipment is now protected from power surges and outages preventing costly repairs and downtime. Plus, the off-grid solution is more cost-effective than upgrading the existing grid infrastructure as well as significantly reducing grid usage, making it a smart long-term investment.
The combination of solar, battery storage, and CE+T technology has made Willows Pastoral’s operations more efficient, sustainable, and resilient. This innovative solution ensures that the farm can continue to run smoothly, even in the face of grid failures or extreme weather events.
Watch the Solution in Action
See the transformation in power reliability at Willows Pastoral. Watch the power solution in action :
This project is a shining example of how innovative energy solutions can solve the challenges of unstable grid power in rural areas, making remote farming more efficient, sustainable, and future-ready.