A self-generating power pod is being trialled on a cattle property in north-west Queensland with the hope of providing rural properties with a more reliable, cheaper, environmentally friendly and resilient power source.

Key points: A shire council in north-west Queensland is looking at new ways to provide power and a self-generating power pod is part of a trial

A shire council in north-west Queensland is looking at new ways to provide power and a self-generating power pod is part of a trial The long-term aim is to find a way to provide reliable power to remote and rural properties

The long-term aim is to find a way to provide reliable power to remote and rural properties The trial pod was shipped to Australia from Europe before being trucked to Glenagra Station



The pod, which relies on solar power, batteries, and a back-up generator, has been set up at Glenagra Station, near Kynuna, where it will power the homestead and bores.

The property will receive free power for 12 months under the trial.

The McKinlay Shire Council is investigating alternative energy solutions to the main power source, which is presently delivered to rural properties via single-wire earth-return lines, or SWER lines.

Single wire earth return (SWER) lines provide power to rural properties in the McKinlay Shire. ( ABC North West Queensland: Krystal Gordon )

McKinlay Mayor Belinda Murphy said SWER lines were unreliable, hard to maintain, and susceptible to lightning strikes.

She said there were ample opportunities for renewable sources instead.

"They [renewables] can potentially overcome the challenges that are impossible for companies like Ergon to do — such as the weather, the flooding, the cyclones, those sorts of things — when a line goes down in the middle of a flood," Councillor Murphy said.

"There's not much you can do about getting power restored quickly.

"There's definite challenges about delivering power 200kms from a town to an isolated property."

It is part of the reason why the council has partnered with the State Government, Ergon Energy and regional development group Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone (MITEZ) on the $100,000 trial of a hybrid power pod.

Powering the property

Farm sitter Neil Zoglauer said continuous power was vital for keeping cattle watered.

Solar is the key energy source for the power pod. ( Supplied: Neil Zoglauer )

"Our main bore that runs from here is probably the thing we really need the power for, without that we haven't got waters to all our paddocks and that's our critical thing especially in the summer — reliability of power for that is essential," Mr Zoglauer said.

He said before the system was installed power interruptions were common.

"We often had a lot of brown outs and the power would disappear for an hour or so during the day, we had periods during storms where it would go out for quite long periods," he said.

Steers drink from a water trough at Glenagra Station. ( Supplied: Neil Zoglauer )

The German-manufactured pod had to be modified for the Queensland heat, with air-conditioning and ventilation needed to keep the system running.

A month into the trial, Cr Murphy said a wind turbine might be added to the power pod, which could help address teething issues.

"The generator is cutting in at about five o'clock in the morning for up to two hours so if we then put the wind on it, it would be interesting to see if from then the generator cuts in at all," Cr Murphy said.

The pod was shipped from Europe to the Townsville Port before being trucked to the shire and later set up on the station.

The German-made power pod was shipped into the Townsville Port before being trucked west. ( Supplied: Budd Photography )

Twelve-month trial

Cr Murphy said the pod would be monitored remotely to determine the success of the trial.

"Visibility on the data is key to seeing where the issues are and what things are cutting in where, how much power is being used constantly during the day and night," Cr Murphy said.

She said cost will also be a big factor in the pod's success.

"It's no good having, and investing in one of these things if the pay back period is 100 years, it's not worth it."

Glen Graham, from the Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone, said if successful the pods could have broader application.

"If all things turn out as expected it may provide the evidence that will be needed for others to want to part take in this kind of technology on their property or on their mine site, road camp or for their major tourism event," Mr Graham said.