Hybrid Power in Remote Western Australia
How a Battery Box, Solar and Generator Solution Saved 3,000 Litres of Diesel in Just Two Months
Location:
Midwest WASectors:
Remote & Off - GridRun Time
Diesel Saved
3,000 L
Co2 Abated
8 Tonnes
Solar Captured
4,400+ kWh
More than just a battery, the Battery Box is an intelligent energy solution that cuts fuel use, reduces emissions, and eliminates light-load generator run time. It works standalone or as part of a hybrid system with solar and generators, and scales easily across fleets.
The Battery Box is Blue Diamond Machinery’s proprietary battery energy storage system, designed to deliver clean, silent, and reliable off-grid power. Engineered in-house at BDM’s clean energy hub in Western Australia, it’s a plug-and-play solution built for harsh conditions, from mining and construction to events and remote sites.
The customer is located three hours north of Perth in Western Australia’s Midwest region. Due to the remoteness of the location, they were dealing with difficult fuel logistics and high diesel costs.
On site, they have constantly changing loads throughout the day, and running a generator full-time just wasn’t efficient or sustainable long-term. With staff accommodation and amenities located nearby, generator noise was an additional concern.
During the day, the solar panels power the site and charge the batteries at the same time. During the evenings and overnight, the Battery Box handles the intermittent load requirements and the generator only starts when it’s needed.
This is managed by the synchronised COMAP IG200 controller, which seamlessly shares the load between the battery and the generator as required.
Being in the Midwest of WA where sunlight is in abundance, the panels receive a strong and consistent site solar resource, and have captured over 4,400 kilowatt hours of solar energy alone in the first two months.
In just two months of operation, the hybrid system has delivered significant results
A massive reduction in fuel usage and costs in a short period of time.
- Lower noise: Overnight, the battery runs silently, which is a big improvement for comfort and safety, particularly with staff accommodation and amenities nearby.
- Reduced servicing and breakdowns: Less generator run time means less servicing, fewer breakdowns, and lower ongoing maintenance costs.
- Scalable: The Battery Box scales easily across fleets, making it suitable for operations with multiple remote sites.
- 24/7 remote monitoring: Full visibility and support through ONE Intelligent Energy and Blue Diamond’s Overwatch platform, ensuring the system is always performing optimally.
