Stand Alone Power Systems (SAPS)

Essential Energy delivers reliable, safe and efficient energy solutions that meet our customers’ changing needs. Stand Alone Power Systems (SAPS) are an innovative and cost-effective way to ensure reliable and safe electricity supply to customers located at the end of remote powerlines.

What is a Stand Alone Power System?

A Stand Alone Power System (SAPS) is an independent power supply which operates independently from the network of electricity poles and powerlines and can be used to power homes or other types of accommodation, sheds, workshops and offices. The system set-up includes:

solar panels,
a battery for energy storage, and
a back-up diesel generator.

Stand Alone Power System

Benefits of Stand Alone Power Systems

SAPS are installed, managed and maintained by Essential Energy for eligible customers to:

Deliver more reliable power to customers located at the end of long, remote powerlines
Reduce outages caused by powerline maintenance, extreme weather, wildlife strikes and vehicle impacts
Improve resilience during natural disasters – electricity is generated onsite, removing the need to rely on infrastructure that could be affected by natural disasters such as bushfires and storms
Reduce environmental impact of electricity infrastructure – there is no need to access and maintain long corridors of vegetation around poles and wires in remote and hard to access regions
Improve safety through removal of hazards that can be caused by poles and wires
Provide clean and sustainable energy via a system owned, operated and maintained by Essential Energy in the same way that we manage the current poles and wires
Offer flexibility and scalability – the modular design can be adapted to suit different situations, locations and changing needs
May in future, deliver customers a reduction in electricity charges through a discount on generation costs within their electricity bill.

How does a Stand Alone Power System work?

Graphic showing energy flow

The SAPS is constructed by Essential Energy in a suitable location on a customer’s property.

The solar panels are connected to the home or building via a battery and inverter. The solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours, and the energy is collected and used to power the premises and charge the battery. The battery provides power at night, or when it is overcast for long periods of time. A diesel generator is also installed to provide back-up supply to the system.

The equipment is installed, owned, operated and maintained by us, in the same way that we manage the current electricity network of poles and wires – with continued 24/7 monitoring and ongoing maintenance. There are no additional charges to the customer.

Customer eligibility criteria

We’re installing Stand Alone Power Systems (SAPS) in locations where the system can increase reliability and resilience of the power supply and reduce our operating costs for existing customers.

For example, locations where a 4km-long powerline supplies one property. We’re also assessing options for existing customers in densely vegetated, flood and bushfire-prone areas.

Customer eligibility assessment criteria considers:

The location of the property and the electricity infrastructure servicing that property – SAPS are suitable for properties at the end of a long length of remote powerlines
Properties located in areas that are prone to outages caused by natural disasters and densely vegetated, or difficult to access to repair and maintain our network
Properties must have an existing electricity network connection with an energy retailer with an account of a minimum of 12-month period. i.e. SAPS are not installed in greenfield locations or for new developments
Other criteria are also assessed including the age and condition of the network infrastructure, vicinity of nearby properties and other property connections along the length of powerlines serving the property.

If you believe you meet the criteria for a SAPS assessment, get in touch with our team. If your circumstances don’t meet our criteria, you still have the option to explore your own private SAPS installation.

Worker standing among battery cabinets

Customer Story: Embracing resilience with a Stand Alone Power System

Amanda was one of the first customers to install a Stand Alone Power System on her remote property on the NSW South Coast.

Initially, it was a quick way to reconnect to power after the 2019-2020 bushfires burnt through the Eurobodalla region.

“Having a SAPS has given me peace of mind,” she says. “I no longer worry about losing power during extreme weather events or any other time. It’s a reliable and sustainable solution that fits perfectly with our lifestyle here.”