Renewable energy powering coastal club

Monday, April 01, 2024

When coastal erosion threatened to wash away a power pole and line providing electricity to Waitara Bar Board Riders Club, Powerco provided a bespoke Base Power off-grid solution to support the club’s energy needs. 

While Powerco had worked to supply the club with traditional mains supply, plans for a new pole and wires away from the immediate coastline had the potential to impact the views of an adjacent property, while there were easement constraints with another potential line route.

“We came up with a customised Base Power system to suit their small load - a solar-only solution, with solar integrated on the building,” Base Power Business Manager Will Buchanan explains. 

“For them, it was the best outcome. They’re getting free power from the sun, they have no ongoing costs, and the system requires minimal maintenance.” 

The club was supplied with a micro-SAPS (stand-alone power systems) that included a 5kVA inverter with 7.6kWh of battery storage, as well as roof-mounted solar panels – all of which were gifted to the club. 

With standard Base Power systems, the minimum specifications are usually at least 12kVA with around 30KWh of storage, solar panels and a backup generator.

“Having Base Power and solar has been awesome,” says Waitara Bar Board Riders Club president Peter Martin. Finding the money to pay a power bill, which used to be about $100 a month, was tough going for the club, which only has about 50 members.

“It’s cut out one bill for us. We just don’t have to worry about the power bills anymore and we’re getting enough power from the solar without running out.” 

Our Base Power SAPS enable us to work with customers on off-grid energy solutions that are right for them. Working outside our regulated operations gives this area of our business the scope to work beyond our distribution footprint and offer non-network solutions.

 A surf board leaning against a building, below a sign saying Base Power    Solar panels on a roof
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