True North Copper engaged Commodore Australia to deliver a dependable, low-maintenance off-grid power system for its mining exploration camp outside Mount Isa. The environment is unforgiving: high ambient temperatures, dust, long logistics chains and three-phase equipment that cannot afford downtime.
Commodore supplied a pre-engineered, field-expandable Power Hub Commercial solution with battery expansion, a high-yield rooftop PV array and an auto-start diesel generator for resilience. The system was installed by our partners Western Solar & Off-Grid and commissioned to run as a solar-first hybrid, keeping diesel off wherever possible while guaranteeing 24/7 supply.
Victron Remote Management (VRM) for live monitoring and support
The brief
Exploration work ebbs and flows, but the power cannot. The site team needed a system that would:
Handle demanding daily loads on a true three-phase bus.
Stay reliable in extreme heat and dust.
Minimise diesel use and the logistics burden of fuel.
Arrive pre-built, pre-tested and fast to commission to keep project timelines tight.
Offer clear remote monitoring so the head office could see health and performance at a glance.
Site realities: why the design matters
Mount Isa is hot, dry and remote. High daytime cell temperatures reduce panel output, dust increases soiling losses, and summer storms demand robust electrical protection. Long distances add cost to every maintenance visit and fuel drop. Designing for thermal management, serviceability and autonomy was non-negotiable.
The solution
Pre-engineered Power Hub Commercial System
We built the heart of the system into rugged outdoor-rated Power Hub enclosures. Each cabinet ships pre-wired, labelled, and factory tested so that onsite work focuses on placement, AC tie-in, PV connections and commissioning.
Three-phase inverter stack: 3 × 10 kVA units provide a balanced 30 kVA backbone with plenty of headroom for start-up surges and future load growth.
Battery block: ~70 kWh of LiFePO₄ storage gives strong overnight autonomy and rapid solar recharge. The expansion cabinet makes future capacity upgrades straightforward.
Controls and protections: Integrated mains-rated switching, surge protection, lockable isolators and clear labelling make operations simple and safe.
High-yield solar array
32.56 kW array using Tiger Neo Pro modules mounted across two roof planes to spread generation and improve thermal performance with natural airflow under the panels.
The layout was modelled to avoid nearby tree shading and to maintain clean service corridors on the roof.
Generator integration that plays nicely
A 44 kVA auto-start diesel generator sits on a dedicated slab, covered and protected from the elements.
The Power Hub controls auto-start for battery top-ups or rare high-load events, then returns to silent solar-battery operation.
Electrical and civil works allow safe crane access and straightforward service intervals without disturbing daily camp operations.
Built for the outback
Shade structure over the Power Hub banks and generator reduces heat load and extends equipment life.
Filtered ventilation and tidy cable management minimise dust ingress and make inspections quick.
All external hardware, from fixings to conduits and mesh, was selected for durability and easy replacement if ever required.
Delivery and installation
Commodore’s Queensland branch, worked closely with True North Copper from scoping through to handover. Our partners Liam and the Western Solar & Off-Grid crew transported, placed and connected the system on a tight schedule.
What sped things up:
Pre-commissioned Commercial Grade Power Hub cabinets
Clear pad locations for cabinets and generator
Pre-planned PV stringing and combiner layout
Remote support via VRM during final on-site checks
The result was a neat, serviceable plant with logical access around all equipment.
Operations and early performance
Live behaviour
The VRM snapshot captured during the first operational period shows the system running solar-first:
PV covering the camp load and recharging the battery through the day
Generator stopped under normal conditions
Battery at 100% SOC by around midday on clear days
Month-one observations
The camp ran quietly on solar and batteries for the vast majority of the month, with the generator reserved for resilience after sequences of low-insolation days or short peak events.
Battery cycling stayed within a healthy mid-band, supporting long life.
Equipment temperatures remained well controlled, aided by shading and cabinet ventilation.
Practical takeaway: the system behaves as intended – it prioritises solar, keeps diesel off, and still guarantees supply when the weather turns or operations spike.
Safety, compliance and training
Installed to relevant AS/NZS standards for stand-alone power systems, earthing and rooftop PV.
Lockable isolators and clear placarding enable safe lock-out/tag-out for visiting contractors.
Site personnel received basic operator training: start/stop procedures, routine checks, and how to escalate alarms seen on the VRM dashboard.
Business impact
Lower running costs and fewer fuel runs Solar covers the everyday load profile, sharply cutting generator runtime and the cost and risk tied to fuel deliveries.
Quieter, cleaner site Battery-first operation reduces noise and exhaust, which is a quality-of-life win for crews and a compliance plus around sensitive work windows.
Fewer callouts Remote insight via VRM lets support teams diagnose issues and guide site staff before rolling a truck.
Built-in growth Extra battery strings and PV can be added as camp demand scales, protecting the initial investment.
Lessons learned and best practice for remote mining power
Design for heat: shading, ventilation and conservative thermal loading protect electronics and batteries.
Keep it serviceable: clear access around cabinets and generator pays back every time a tech visits.
Engineer the roof: good rail layout, safe walkways and tidy conduit runs make inspections fast and safe.
Treat diesel as insurance, not a crutch: solar-first logic and adequate storage are the fastest path to lower OPEX.
Monitor everything: VRM gives the client and Commodore the same live view, shortening the path from alert to action.
Ready for tougher sites
This project shows what happens when engineered hardware meets people who know the bush. The True North Copper camp now has quiet, clean, reliable power that prefers sunlight to diesel, with the generator in reserve for the rare moments it is truly needed. It is a future-ready platform the team can trust as mining exploration ramps up.
Want a similar system for your site? Talk to Commodore about a Power Hub configuration sized for your energy requirements, your environment and your timeline. Get in touch here>>
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