Off-grid solar & battery / Mid North Coast · Northern Rivers NSW
Off-grid solar, built to get through winter.
Fully off-grid solar and battery systems with an integrated backup generator, for rural homes, farms, cabins and sheds. Designed from every load on site, by licensed electricians.
Off-grid qualified
Stand-alone power system design and installation. Solar Accreditation Australia member.
- CEC accredited S4097096
- Licence NSW 313400C
- Sigenergy approved
- Sungrow approved
- GoodWe approved
- SAA member
- NECA member
Free off-grid assessment
Tell us what runs on site. We send back a design.
Use the form below, or email info@coffscoastelectrical.com, with where the property is and what you need to run.
We come back with the system we'd suggest and what it would cost, and if the grid is close, what connecting would cost instead. The assessment is free.
Before we quote
What we work out first.
- Step 01
Every load on site
What runs, how much power it draws and when: fridges, pumps, the hot water, the workshop. Off-grid, the system has to carry all of it, every day.
- Step 02
Winter, not summer
We size for the shortest, cloudiest weeks of the year, because that's when an off-grid system is tested. Summer looks after itself.
- Step 03
Days of storage
How many cloudy days in a row the battery should carry before the generator starts. More storage means fewer generator hours and a higher price.
- Step 04
Backup generator
Every system we build has a generator integrated as backup. We work out whether yours is the right size or you need a new one.
- Step 05
Grid connection cost
If the poles are close, we tell you what connecting would cost instead. Off-grid only makes sense when it beats the line.
Every off-grid install
What the install covers.
- 01
Design from your loads
Panel array, battery size and inverter capacity worked out from what you run, written up with the assumptions shown.
- 02
Off-grid qualified, our own crew
Luke holds the nationally recognised stand-alone power system qualifications (22601VIC Design, 22600VIC Install), and the licensed electricians who quote the job install it.
- 03
Switchboard and wiring
Board, cabling and earthing done by us as part of the job. On an off-grid site there's no network to fall back on, so the wiring has to be right.
- 04
Integrated backup generator
A generator wired into the system as backup power, so a long run of cloudy weather doesn't leave you without power.
- 05
Monitoring from your phone
See what the system is making, storing and using, and so can we, so a problem shows up before the lights go out.
- 06
Warranties in writing
25 years on panels, 10 on inverters and batteries, and 10 years on our workmanship.
What we install
Three brands, on purpose.
- Sigenergy
Inverters and batteries
Stackable batteries with a built-in gateway, so storage can grow as the site does.
Inverters and batteries
Hybrid inverters and batteries from one of the largest inverter makers in the world, with strong Australian support.
Inverters and batteries
Inverters and large-capacity batteries, for sites that want to run as much as possible on their own solar.
Off-grid questions
What people ask us.
What's the difference between off-grid and a normal solar system?
A normal system is connected to the grid, so the grid covers anything the solar and battery can't. An off-grid system has no grid behind it. The solar, battery and generator have to cover every load, every day of the year, so it's designed very differently and costs more.
Is off-grid cheaper than connecting to the grid?
It depends on how far the poles are. If the line is close, connecting is usually cheaper. If it's a long way, connection costs can run well past the price of an off-grid system. We'll tell you which way the numbers fall for your site before you commit.
Do we still need a generator?
Yes, and we build it in. An integrated backup generator covers long runs of cloudy weather without paying for a battery sized for the worst week in ten years. A well-designed system runs it rarely.
Are there rebates for off-grid?
Off-grid solar can claim STCs, which we take off the price. An off-grid battery may also be eligible for the federal battery discount, one battery per dwelling. Eligibility depends on the site, so we check it and show the discount on your quote.
Can we add more later?
Yes, if it's designed for it. We choose inverters and batteries that can take more panels or storage, so a shed, a second house or an EV can be added without starting again.
How far do you travel?
We're based in Bonville, near Coffs Harbour, and travel across the NSW Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers, from Port Macquarie up to Lismore and inland to Armidale.
Where we work
The Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers.
- Coffs Harbour
- Bellingen
- Dorrigo
- Macksville
- Nambucca Heads
- Kempsey
- Port Macquarie
- Grafton
- Armidale
- Lismore
- Ballina