Modernising a Legacy: The Koonamore Station Power Upgrade.

Located in South Australia’s rugged Far North, east of the Flinders Ranges and southeast of Leigh Creek, Koonamore Station is a cornerstone of Australian pastoral history. Established in the late 1800s, this iconic property has supported sheep and cattle production for generations. However, its remote geography means a grid connection is off the table; for Koonamore, dependable off-grid power is a necessity for survival.

Powering a Historic Frontier

For years, Koonamore relied on an aging off-grid system that was beginning to buckle under modern demands. With outdated components and a failing lead-acid battery bank reaching the end of its service life, reliability had become a constant concern. MyEnergy was commissioned to design a contemporary Remote Area Power System (RAPS) that could modernise the station’s energy profile while integrating seamlessly with existing infrastructure.

Engineering a High-Capacity Remote Solution

To meet these challenges, MyEnergy designed a single-phase system centred around three Victron MultiPlus-II inverter/chargers configured in parallel, delivering 30kVA of power. By functioning as a synchronised unit, these inverters share the electrical load, providing higher continuous power and the surge capacity required for heavy station equipment over the existing inverter.

The upgrade was integrated into the station’s original footprint:

• Storage Overhaul: We retired the original lead-acid batteries, replacing them with a massive 92kWh ZYC storage solution. This jump in capacity ensures consistent, reliable power through the night and during low-solar intervals.
  
  
• Small Solar Expansion & Black Start Capability: Seven new JA Solar panels (3.08kW) were installed on the generator shed using a Schletter roof mount system. Crucially, these were configured as DC-coupled PV. This provides the station with essential black-start capability, allowing the system to autonomously recover and recharge after total battery depletion without requiring a generator to first energise the AC bus.

Remote Area Power System Overview

• Solar: 3.08kW JA Solar (DC-Coupled for Black Start)
• Inverter: 3 x Victron MultiPlus-II (Parallel Configuration) 30kVa Single Phase
• Solar Inverters: SMA Sunny Boy (AC-Coupled Replacements)
• Battery: 92kWh - ZYC Simpo 5000

Key Components

• Monitoring & Control: Victron Ekrano GX & SmartSolar MPPT RS 450/100-Tr
• Mounting: Schletter Roof Mount System

Reliable Power for Remote Pastoral Operations

This upgraded system provides Koonamore Station with a scalable, dependable power supply built for the harsh realities of the Australian Outback. By combining 92kWh of ZYC lithium storage with modern SMA and Victron technology, the station has secured its energy future while relegating noisy, expensive generators to emergency backup duty.

At MyEnergy, our approach to remote power is rooted in practicality. We focus on site-specific designs that respect the history of the property—retaining and optimising existing infrastructure where possible to avoid wastage while delivering the reliability required where the grid simply won’t go.

Find out more about our Remote Area Power System solutions here: