Ensuring Rapid, Deployable Power in Off-Grid and Disaster-Affected Areas

Delivering reliable off-grid energy for remote sites or emergency situations has long depended on systems powered by diesel generators. 

Although diesel gensets are effective in the short term, they are increasingly at odds with the demands of remote infrastructure and emergency response: they’re noisy, fuel-intensive, logistically fragile and environmentally unsustainable as Australia continues its decarbonisation journey.

Thankfully, Valen’s V-Trail represents a fundamental shift in how critical remote and disaster-affected infrastructure is powered. 

Developed in regional NSW, this trailer-mounted Stand Alone Power System (SAPS) provides 43 kWh of LiFePO₄ battery storage and 10.3 kWp of solar generation. It’s designed for rapid deployment, handles rugged terrain with ease, and ensures critical sites like hospitals, evacuation centres, or communications infrastructure operators can confidently move away from reliance on diesel.

What are the limitations of diesel-dependent power systems?

For decades, diesel generators have been the default solution for delivering emergency and remote-site power. They’re relatively easy to source and quick to deploy, but their limitations have become increasingly problematic. Fuel supply chains are fragile and frequently disrupted during natural disasters, especially in remote or flood-affected areas. Generators are noisy, emit harmful pollutants, and require frequent refuelling and ongoing maintenance.

More critically, their mechanical complexity introduces potential electrical fault currents, leading to overheating risks and a higher burden on maintenance teams tasked with keeping them running in challenging environments. Additionally, the parasitic load of the generator reduces the efficiency of the system, reducing functional power output.

These challenges are magnified during disasters, when roads are cut off, access is limited, and every hour without power has human consequences. For operators managing telecommunications towers, water pumping stations, transport or critical communications infrastructure, diesel-based systems are no longer a reliable long-term solution.

Introducing the V-Trail: solar-first engineering

While traditional hybrid systems merely bolt solar functionality onto a diesel-first framework, the V-Trail is designed by Valen from the ground up to prioritise solar and battery power. 

This shift in architecture is enabled by a high-efficiency system design that optimises every component for off-grid autonomy.

At the heart of the V-Trail is a 43kWh LiFePO₄ battery bank, known for its safety, long life (8,000+ cycles at 90% DoD), and stable performance under heavy cycling. The battery is fed by a 10.3kWp solar array that provides around 20% more capacity than similar SAPS units. This is managed by a 35kW solar charge controller with eight maximum power point tracking (MPPT) channels, offering 99.9% solar harvesting efficiency. 

Energy is delivered through a 30kVA inverter that operates at 96% efficiency, with industry-leading low parasitic loads that ensure nearly all generated solar energy reaches the system’s intended output. 

This level of system integration means that Valen’s V-Trail can operate entirely without generator input, delivering clean, quiet and reliable power in even the harshest off-grid environments. Diesel operation is still available: a generator provides a secondary backup, creating a failsafe system with multiple power options for any situation. 

Built for rapid response

The ability to restore power quickly after a natural disaster is vital, and minimising any downtime makes a positive human impact on hospitals, mobile phone towers, and other infrastructure that keeps people safe and connected. Once positioned, the trailer-mounted SAPS begins generating and storing energy immediately, delivering power to evacuation centres, community water infrastructure, telecoms towers, or critical monitoring systems while permanent repairs are underway.

In the context of a disaster, this means fewer outages, reduced service disruption, and faster recovery timelines. For essential services, that can be the difference between continuity and crisis.

Valen’s on-the-ground expertise in supporting remote and emergency operations is showcased in the design of this unit. The fuel tank is positioned with a low centre of gravity to maximise towing stability, while the unit’s design has been optimised for secure travel and safe, solo setup. The SAPS can be towed to site and deployed within hours, and the dual axle trailer with independent suspension allows it to navigate difficult terrain and reach areas that standard equipment can’t. The solar panels are engineered to fold safely into the trailer’s protected footprint, reducing the risk of damage during transport through bush tracks or over washouts.

A strategic asset for grid operators and emergency services

The value of the V-Trail extends far beyond a single deployment. Its mobility means a single unit can support multiple sites across the year, rotating between bushfire-prone zones in summer and flood-affected communities in winter. That translates into more power continuity and less capital expenditure for system owners. 

Equally important is the role it plays in maintaining visibility and control across network systems. Even during large-scale grid failures, the V-Trail can keep remote telemetry, SCADA equipment, and communication links online, acting as a bridging solution and giving operators the data they need to manage assets, coordinate recovery, and safeguard communities.

The new standard for remote and emergency power

As Australia faces more frequent and severe climate events, the way we power critical infrastructure must evolve. The V-Trail is a product of that evolution: a smarter, cleaner, and more mobile SAPS designed for the realities of today’s remote and emergency environments.

Offering tailored solutions, expert advice and 25 years of industry-leading technical expertise, Valen helps power critical infrastructure to keep communities connected, safe and resilient. Visit https://valen.com.au/ to learn more about how the V-Trail combines mobility, solar dominance, and intelligent energy management in one integrated solution.