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Off-grid and backup power in Virginia

Virginia 5120, South Australia. Power cut backup for grid-connected homes, with days of stored energy instead of hours.

Power in Virginia

Virginia is classed as inner regional. Most homes here are on the main grid, but storms and faults on rural feeder lines still cut power, and the further a line runs the longer a repair can take.

  • Homes on rural feeder lines
  • Lifestyle blocks with pumps and freezers
  • Small businesses that cannot close for an outage
Locality
Virginia, SA 5120
Council area
Salisbury
Remoteness
Inner regional (ABS)
Nearest centre
30 km from Adelaide

Water in. Power out.

Cheap power splits water into hydrogen. The hydrogen waits in a tank. When the lines go down in Virginia, a fuel cell turns it back into electricity and water, and the water goes round again.

How it works →
The H2OME loop: an electrolyser splits water into hydrogen, the hydrogen is stored in a tank for weeks, a fuel cell turns it into electricity for your home, and the water returns to the loop.

Virginia: questions

Can H2OME power a home in Virginia?

Yes, that is what it is designed for. A Virginia home charges the unit from cheap off-peak power, or from wind or micro-hydro where there is no grid, and runs on stored hydrogen when the power goes. 15 kW continuous covers an average home.

How long can it run Virginia through a power cut?

Days rather than hours. A battery handles the first moments of an outage, then the fuel cell runs the house on stored hydrogen, which does not lose charge while it waits.

When will H2OME be available in South Australia?

It is in early development. Pilot installs go to people on the pilot list first, and inner regional South Australia properties like those around Virginia are exactly who the pilot is for.

Near Virginia

All South Australia locations →

Join the pilot list

Pilot installs go to people on this list first. Rural homes, farms and remote sites especially. No spam, no payment.