Starting With a Blank Canvas

The idea was to create a home-grown off-grid power system using modern technology that was rugged, reliable and straightforward to install, operate and maintain.

One of our original ambitions was that a Power Station system should be simple enough to be “loaded into a canoe anywhere in the Pacific with a bag of spanners” and successfully installed.

It captured our thinking: sophisticated technology without unnecessary complexity, especially in remote locations where technical assistance might be thousands of kilometres away.

We also didn’t want to become another solar company selling boxes of imported components. We wanted to select the components ourselves, engineer them into an integrated system, then assemble and test the finished product in New Zealand.

The team started with one question:

What would our product and service need to look like for Power Station to become New Zealand’s preferred specialist off-grid supplier?

The answer wasn’t just about the equipment.

Building the Expertise Around the Product

We needed an engineering team with world-leading qualifications in solar and electrical engineering, capable of designing customised solutions around each customer’s property, lifestyle and power requirements.

We also needed our own technical support capability and a network of approved regional installers and electricians, providing customers with both national and local support.

But for many people considering off-grid living, the biggest challenge wasn’t choosing equipment. It was knowing what they needed, what would work and what mistakes to avoid.

That’s where our Free Design Service began.

Rather than expecting customers to choose from a catalogue of preconfigured systems, we would first understand their situation, then recommend a solution based on practical experience of what works, what doesn’t and why.

That remains one of Power Station’s defining differences today.

Value for Money Over the Long Term

Another founding principle was value for money.

We never set out to build the cheapest off-grid system. There is a place for ‘cheap and cheerful’ and plenty of inexpensive options available.

For us, value meant something broader: a properly designed system around te lifestyle of customers, reliable equipment, the ability to expand as circumstances changed, and technical support when it was needed.

It meant considering the cost of ownership over many years, not simply the purchase price.

Research, Development and a Kiwi-Built Product

Research and development was the other essential part of the plan.

We wanted to take advantage of advances in solar, battery and inverter technology, but only where those advances made practical sense for New Zealand conditions and the remote locations where many of our systems would operate.

Our first two versions, known as the Power Station Classic, used AGM lead-acid batteries and later lead-carbon battery technology.

As lithium battery technology improved and became more affordable, we developed newer generations, including the Power Station Ultra series.

Throughout that evolution, we continued researching and evaluating batteries, inverters and solar panels from an engineering and manufacturing perspective, rather than just adopting whatever products happened to be available from wholesalers.

Engineering, manufacturing and research and development continue in close association with SolarKing. Over the years, Power Station has developed into an established specialist off-grid brand, with its own product range, design service, customers and reputation.

From New Zealand Homes to the Pacific

Since 2018, Power Station systems have found their way into a remarkable variety of locations.

Residential homes remain the largest part of our business, but our systems also power farms, orchards, holiday accommodation, remote Department of Conservation properties, marae, papakāinga and commercial operations.

We’ve also supplied systems across the Pacific, including more than 30 to Pitcairn Island, one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth.

Each application brings different challenges, and the experience gained continues to influence how we design systems and advise customers.

What’s Changed, And What Hasn’t

The off-grid solar market has changed considerably since Power Station began.

There are now many more businesses selling off-grid equipment, reflecting growing interest in independent power generation and, in some cases, concerns about the cost and reliability of New Zealand’s electricity network.

There’s a place for inexpensive DIY systems, just as there’s a place for sophisticated, high-cost solutions from international manufacturers.

We’ve chosen to stay focused on the space between them.

A reliable, expandable, New Zealand-engineered off-grid power system, backed by practical expertise, customised design and long-term value for money.

That was the thinking behind Power Station in 2018.

It’s still how we approach our work today.