The Ranch — our old sales office, turned into a high-end off-grid weekender on 1 km of private waterfront.
Plenty of our buyers have land with no power pole in sight: bush blocks, farms, waterfront getaways and hinterland ridges. A shipping container home suits that kind of block well. We build it in our South Lismore factory, it arrives on one truck, and it sits on steel posts instead of a slab, so there’s far less work on site.
Going off-grid comes down to four things: power, hot water, waste and water. You also need a building shell that holds its temperature, so the system doesn’t have to work as hard. We can build all of that in before the home leaves the factory.
What we can build in
The off-grid options we list include solar panels and batteries, composting waste systems, wind turbines, solar hot water, and security and power-management systems. Here’s how each part fits together.
Solar power
Our solar power page covers our value off-grid solar systems. They’re entry-level residential kits for low-consumption users who cook with gas and don’t heat or cool with electricity. There are three sizes:
- 4 Panel kit — approx. 2.2 kWh per day
- Six Pack — approx. 2.6 kWh per day
- 8 Panel kit — approx. 3.4 kWh per day
The systems are sized for Northern NSW conditions. Many customers install them themselves, but the inverter must be connected by a licensed electrician. We can install within about four hours of Nimbin. For bigger loads, tell us what you run and we’ll talk through a larger system.
Solar hot water
See solar hot water for the systems we fit. Pairing solar hot water with gas cooking keeps the electrical load small enough for a compact solar kit.
Waste
For blocks without sewer, we can supply composting toilets or build around a septic system. Your council will decide which on-site waste option you can use, so check early. Our council approval guide can help.
Water
Our Off Grid Office shows how water can work in a single container. It uses a pressure pump, 160-litre water and sewage tanks and a macerator, all built into the unit. On a home, we plan the tank supply, pump and plumbing around your roof area and site.
Insulation
An off-grid home runs best when the shell does the heavy lifting. We can build to any energy rating or insulation level. The Blue Tongue is a good example: 50 mm EPS in the walls and ceiling and 150 mm EPS in the roof. See our insulation page for options.
Off-grid builds we’ve done
Byron Granny Flat — 4 × 20ft
Byron Granny Flat — fully off-grid for power, with solar and septic.
This granny flat, made from four 20ft containers, is fully off-grid, running on solar with a septic system. It shows that a secondary dwelling doesn’t need a grid connection to work day to day.
The Ranch
Our old sales office became a high-end off-grid weekender on 1 km of private waterfront. It’s a good reminder that off-grid doesn’t have to mean roughing it.
Off Grid Office — 20ft
Off Grid Office — 20ft high cube, 14.4 m², solar packages available.
This 20ft high cube has 14.4 m² inside. Solar packages are available, along with the pump, tanks and macerator set-up described above. It works as a remote office, studio or starting point for a small off-grid cabin.
Portable Sales Display Office
Portable Sales Display Office — off-grid solar, 10-day factory build, 5-day install.
This office runs on off-grid solar. It was built in the factory in 10 days and installed in 5.
Remote Mining cabin
Our Remote Mining cabin runs off a small generator or a built-in plug-and-go off-grid solar unit. That same approach works for remote accommodation.
Why containers suit remote blocks
- Built off-site. Most homes are fabricated within 3 weeks of order, in our Lismore factory, using Australian components.
- Minimal site works. Homes sit on steel posts rather than a slab, and licensed builders around Australia handle groundwork and installation.
- Built for weather. We can build to any cyclone rating up to C4, engineered to suit your site and your certifier’s requirements.
- Transport options. We can send the home by semi-trailer or by rail to your nearest depot, since we hold a rail licence. Delivery is always extra and quoted to your site.
Approval and finance
Off-grid homes still need approvals. We handle plans, certificates, DA applications, engineering, soil testing and energy assessment. Read our guide to council approval for container homes. For funding, see container home grants and finance.
Frequently asked questions
Can a shipping container home be fully off-grid?
Yes. Our Byron Granny Flat is fully off-grid for power, running on solar with a septic system, and The Ranch is an off-grid weekender on private waterfront.
What size solar system do I need?
It depends on your loads. Our value off-grid kits range from approx. 2.2 to 3.4 kWh per day and suit low-consumption users who cook with gas and don’t heat or cool with electricity. Bigger loads need a bigger system.
Can I install the solar kit myself?
Many customers do, but the inverter must be connected by a licensed electrician. We can install within about four hours of Nimbin.
How do you handle toilets and waste off-grid?
We can supply composting toilets or build around a septic system. Your council decides which on-site waste option is allowed, so check early.
Do off-grid container homes need council approval?
Usually, yes. Off-grid status doesn’t change the planning and building rules. We prepare plans, certificates and DA applications for your council.
Can you deliver to remote or hard-to-reach blocks?
Yes. We send homes by semi-trailer or by rail to the nearest depot, and they sit on steel posts rather than a slab. Delivery is always extra and quoted to your site.
Talk to us about your block
Tell us where the block is, how you plan to live there and what you need to run. We’ll put together a layout and an off-grid package quote.
Container Build Group P/L
39 Habib Drive, South Lismore NSW 2480
Phone: 1300 965 359 · Mobile: 0434 287 636
Email: sales@containerbuildgroup.com.au
ABN: 48 141 506 149
Showroom and factory: Mon–Fri 8:30am–4:00pm (appointment necessary) · Contact us