Case Study · Langarra Community, NT

Ten Modular Systems, No Single Point of Failure

The Langarra community, on Howard Island in the Northern Territory, had lost reliable power to failed legacy systems. Instead of one large centralised plant, Maxxiom delivered ten modular Blue Heeler MK II units, transported from Darwin by 4WD and small boat, and finished under budget.

The Challenge

Reliable Power, a Long Way from Anywhere

Remote Island Access

Howard Island is reachable only by small watercraft or light aircraft, making heavy equipment costly and complex to move.

Failed Legacy Systems

Existing off-grid systems and diesel generators had deteriorated beyond repair, leaving homes and facilities without reliable power.

High Logistics Costs

The original centralised design needed cranes, barges and heavy lifting machinery, driving the project cost up sharply.

Harsh Environment

High heat, humidity and salt exposure demanded equipment built for extreme durability.

The Solution

Modular, Not Centralised

The client first specified one large centralised system. Maxxiom proposed a more resilient alternative: ten Maxxiom Blue Heeler MK II units, each a compact, stainless-steel, Australian-built off-grid system engineered for rugged conditions.

  • Smaller, lighter units, so no cranes or specialised lifting gear
  • Transported from Darwin by 4WD and small boat, avoiding barge hire
  • Redundancy: if one unit needs service, the rest keep running
  • Scalable and maintainable without shutting down the community
Modular Blue Heeler off-grid systems installed for a remote community

The Outcomes

Under Budget, and Then Some

10

modular Blue Heeler units, replacing one centralised plant

Under

budget on transport, labour, equipment hire and install time

3

extra community upgrades funded by the savings

0

single points of failure across the community’s power

Off-grid power restored to a remote community

Beyond the Power

Savings That Went Back into the Community

Delivering under budget freed up funds to do more. With the remaining budget, Maxxiom repaired the community’s solar water pumping station to restore reliable water, applied reflective sealing roof paint to homes to cut indoor heat, and added an off-grid system for the ranger facility to power tools, lighting and fans.

The modular architecture leaves the community with lasting energy security: sealed, stainless-steel units built for the tropics, ongoing redundancy, and local operators trained to monitor and maintain them.

FAQs

This Community Deployment, Answered

Was this a real project?

Yes. Maxxiom delivered it for the Langarra community on Howard Island in the Northern Territory.

Why ten modular units instead of one system?

Modular means redundancy: if one unit needs service, the rest keep running. Smaller units also cut transport and lifting costs, which is what brought the project in under budget.

What system was used?

Ten Maxxiom Blue Heeler MK II PowerBox units, each stainless-steel and sealed for tropical conditions, transported by 4WD and small boat.

Can Maxxiom deliver remote community projects?

Yes. We engineer modular off-grid systems for remote deployment and easy servicing, with local operator training so communities can maintain them.

For Councils & Communities

Resilient Power for Remote Sites

Talk to our team about a modular off-grid deployment engineered for redundancy and easy servicing.

Our Power Systems

One Range, from a Tiny Home to a Whole Community

Modular, Australian-made solar-battery systems. Choose a system below, or use the sizing calculator to get a recommendation in about a minute.

Maxxiom Blue Heeler MK II all-in-one off-grid power system

PowerBox

  • 3-10 kVA
  • 5-50 kWh

All-in-one solar, battery and inverter in a single cabinet. Kelpie, Blue Heeler and Mastiff, sized for sheds and cabins right through to full off-grid homes.

View PowerBox range
Maxxiom transportable solar power trailer with slide-out array

Transportable Systems

  • 5-8 kVA
  • Tow-ready

Road-registerable solar trailers that arrive, deploy and power a site with no fuel and no noise. Built for construction, events and emergency response.

View trailers
Maxxiom Kelpie Portable off-grid power station

Portable Power

  • 3 kW
  • Silent

The Kelpie Portable is a fuel-free replacement for a petrol generator. Wheel it in, switch it on, and work without the noise, fumes or refuelling.

View Kelpie Portable
Maxxiom Mastiff MK II whole-home off-grid power system

Custom & Government Builds

  • Tendered
  • Documented

Systems built to a specification: procurement requirements, safety cases, asset registers and compliance documentation, delivered as a package.

Government capability

Proven in the Field

Numbers from Real Deployments

8.2 MWh+

of battery storage powering off-grid applications all over Australia

97%

fuel reduction across the entire Maxxiom trailer fleet

230+

tiny homes powered by the PowerBox Blue Heeler

3.6 MW+

of inverter output capability across the PowerBox fleet

The projects behind these numbers: construction solar trailer case study · remote community power case study · all case studies

Government & Large Organisations

Built to Be Documented, Compliant and Supported

Larger buyers need more than a spec sheet. Every Maxxiom system ships with the documentation, compliance and long-term support that tenders and asset owners expect.

  • Capability statement and full documentation pack supplied with every tender response
  • Australian designed, built and supported, with local parts and technicians
  • ISO-aligned processes, WHS-ready procedures and CE-certified components
  • Systems already deployed with tier-one civil contractors and major public events
  • Remote monitoring, so asset owners see performance without a site visit
Inside a Maxxiom Power Box, engineered and documented for compliance

Free Sizing Tool

Not Sure What Size System You Need?

Tell us what you want to run and for how long. Our calculator works out your daily energy use and peak load, then recommends the Maxxiom system that fits. It takes about a minute, and there is no obligation.

Proven, Live

Watch a Maxxiom System Right Now

Field-proven is not a slogan. This is a deployed Maxxiom system reporting live from Victron monitoring. Open the dashboard to see its battery, solar and load update in real time.

Live data from Victron VRM. Loads in place; may take a moment.

Maxxiom technician assembling a power system at the Crestmead workshop

Australian Operations

Designed, Built and Supported in Queensland

Maxxiom systems are engineered and assembled at our Crestmead facility, south of Brisbane, and supported by our own technicians.

That means shorter lead times, parts held locally, and an engineer who can talk through your load profile rather than read from a script. We supply nationally and install across South East Queensland and regional Queensland.

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What our customers say

Real Systems, Powering Real Off-Grid Homes

Amazing, reliable system. Remote access gives you peace of mind and confidence. The additional support and guidance from Maxxiom’s staff is outstanding, and the installation crew were absolutely professional, informative and friendly. After receiving several quotes and comparisons from other companies, I am glad I chose Maxxiom and highly recommend them to others.
AdamBatchelor, Northern Territory
Blue Heeler MK II ‘EX’ on an expandable home
I’m really happy with my Maxxiom system. It’s more than adequate and I enjoy using the app to see and plan my power usage. I’m also very grateful to Maxxiom for answering the hundreds of questions I had, and for explaining everything in a way I can understand. The install went really smoothly.
ReneeLaidley Heights, Queensland
Blue Heeler MK II ‘EX’ on a modular tiny home

Questions & Answers

Off-Grid Power, Answered

The questions we hear most from homeowners, builders, councils and contractors. Not sure about something else? Get in touch.

Where does Maxxiom deliver and install off-grid power systems?

We design and build every system in Brisbane and supply them Australia-wide for regional and remote projects. Our licensed electrical team delivers full installation and commissioning across Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, including remote and Indigenous communities. Elsewhere in Australia we supply and support your system for a local installer.

Are Maxxiom systems Australian made?

Yes. Every Maxxiom system is engineered and assembled at our Crestmead facility in Logan, south of Brisbane. That means local parts, local technicians, shorter lead times and Australian-made content for government and procurement requirements.

Will an off-grid system run everything I need?

Our range spans a 3kVA Kelpie for a shed or cabin right through to a 10kVA Mastiff and multi-cabinet builds for whole homes and communities. The right size depends on what you want to run and for how long, so we size each system to your actual load. Use our sizing calculator for a recommendation in about a minute, or ask us for a tailored assessment.

Do Maxxiom systems work with a generator?

They can. Our systems are designed to run fuel-free on solar and battery, but they integrate with a backup generator where a site needs one, with automatic start and stop. For construction and emergency use this gives you clean, silent power day to day and a fallback for extended low-sun periods.

What warranty comes with a Maxxiom system?

Our PowerBox range is backed by a 10-year battery warranty, with long-life LiFePO4 cells and remote monitoring so performance can be checked without a site visit. Full warranty terms are provided with every quote.

Can I expand the system later?

Yes. Maxxiom is a modular platform. Battery capacity, solar and inverter capacity can be added as your needs grow, and the Blue Heeler EX expansion cabinet takes a system up to 20kWh and beyond. You are not locked into today's requirement.

Do you supply government, councils and large organisations?

Yes, it is a core focus. We supply a capability statement and full documentation pack with every tender response: ISO-aligned processes, WHS-ready procedures, CE-certified components, insurances and compliance to AS/NZS standards. Our systems are already deployed with tier-one civil contractors and at major public events.

How much does an off-grid power system cost?

Every system is sized to the site, so we quote rather than list a price. Cost depends on your daily energy use, peak load, solar and battery capacity and whether installation is included. Request a quote and we will give you a clear, itemised figure.

What standards and compliance do your systems meet?

Maxxiom systems are built to the relevant Australian standards for stand-alone power, including AS/NZS 3000, 3001, 4509 and 5033, using Victron power electronics and lithium battery technology. Documentation is supplied for certification, procurement and handover.

How do I get a quote?

Call 1300 940 482 or fill in the enquiry form on this page with a little about your project. Our technical team will get back to you, usually the same business day.

Where We Work

Supplied Australia-Wide, Installed Across QLD, NSW & NT

Maxxiom systems are manufactured in Brisbane and supplied Australia-wide for regional and remote applications. Our licensed electrical team delivers installation, commissioning and support across Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory — from South East Queensland acreage and Northern Rivers tiny homes to remote Indigenous communities in Arnhem Land.

Not in one of these regions? We supply off-grid power systems anywhere in Australia and support your local installer. Ask us about your location.

Ready When You Are

Ready to Power Your Next Project

Whether you are building a tiny home, managing a construction site or delivering government services, Maxxiom supplies reliable, compliant, sustainable off-grid power.

Get In Touch

Request a Quote

Tell us about your project and our technical team will get back to you, usually the same business day. No obligation.

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  • ABN88 662 397 560
  • CoverageSupplied Australia-wide · installed QLD, NSW & NT

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