No outages, no installations, no worries: Nation-first portable solar saves West Vic farmer $2,000 a month

On a 400-acre dairy farm in Swan Marsh, a pair of shipping container-sized units are quietly reshaping how power is generated and used day to day.

For farmer Peter Mulheron, the system of solar panels - dubbed a “solar suitcase” - is delivering both bill savings and peace of mind the power will stay on during milking.

🗣️ “We milk 240 cows at their peak,” Mulheron told the Brolga. “[It supplies] all our power needs for the dairy.”

What is it? The modular solar setup, developed by energy company PHNXX, operates as a microgrid, generating, storing and distributing electricity to farm operations without entirely relying on the grid.

• Designed to be portable, the system can be packed into two containers and relocated as needed.

• The system works on-grid, off-grid and as a hybrid setup. 

• Mulheron is the first in Australia to host the technology, which is also being rolled out in places like Singapore.

Why switch? The decision to invest was driven by rising energy costs and concerns about reliability, particularly during peak summer milking demand.

🗣️ “Power pricing is a concern, and the reliability of power is a concern for me,” he said.

A clear payoff: With support from a Victorian government pilot program run through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Mulheron secured a $100,000 grant towards the $220,000 upfront cost.

• The system is now saving him close to $2,000 a month, with a projected payback period of about five years.

More than money: Beyond the financials, Mulheron said the biggest shift had been confidence in his power supply.

🗣️ “I don’t have concerns [anymore] about rolling power outages … it gives me self assurance that we’re going to be fine,” he said.

Pack up and move on: Unlike traditional rooftop solar, the modular system can be dismantled and moved - taking about seven hours to set up and four hours to pack down - offering flexibility for changing farm operations or future resale.

🗣️ “Which is not quite so easy with a rooftop system,” he added.

Other uses: Mulheron believes the technology could extend well beyond dairy.

🗣️ “I see it has a big need in irrigation where they use a lot of diesel generation for power. And I’ve had inquiries from shellfish farmers as well,” he said.