Mobile energy storage for emergency response needs to work where conventional infrastructure may not be available. For emergency services operating in remote or disaster-affected areas, reliable power can be critical to maintaining communications, coordinating teams and continuing operations.
For the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), that means being prepared to operate in locations where access to power and communications infrastructure cannot always be guaranteed.
As the world’s largest volunteer fire service, NSW RFS protects around 95% of New South Wales. Its teams operate across large and often remote areas, including locations where power infrastructure may be damaged or unavailable during an emergency.
The need was clear. NSW RFS required a mobile command capability that could be deployed wherever it was needed, while continuing to provide the power required to support critical communications and operations.
Building a Command Centre That Can Go Where It Is Needed
The Mobile Command Trailer was developed to provide NSW RFS with a self-contained operational base that could be deployed into disaster-affected areas.
The challenge was not simply to provide enough stored energy. The system needed to support sensitive communications equipment, operate independently from the grid and provide reliable power for extended periods in the field.
RFI worked with NSW RFS to develop the trailer and its integrated power system, with Active Electrical Australia supporting the electrical installation and PowerPlus Energy supplying the energy storage.
The project took 18 months to develop, bringing together the requirements of emergency response with the practical considerations of operating a mobile off-grid system.
Energy Storage Built for the Application
At the centre of the system are 16 PowerPlus Energy LiFe4838P Premium batteries, providing a combined 60.8kWh of energy storage.
The batteries form part of a Victron Energy power system, supported by rooftop solar generation and system monitoring. Together, these components provide the trailer with an independent energy source capable of supporting up to 24 hours of continuous operation.
For a mobile command centre, energy storage needs to do more than store power. It needs to provide confidence that essential equipment can continue operating when access to conventional infrastructure is limited. This was a key consideration in the design of the system.
Supporting Decisions in Difficult Conditions
Once deployed, the Mobile Command Trailer can provide NSW RFS personnel with a dedicated operational space closer to the incident they are responding to.
This can be particularly important when local infrastructure has been damaged or when response teams need to establish operations away from permanent facilities.
The trailer supports communications, coordination and other critical equipment without relying solely on a fixed power connection.
That flexibility gives emergency response teams another option when conditions change and infrastructure cannot be relied upon.
Powering Critical Applications
From emergency response and mobile infrastructure to remote and off-grid projects, energy storage needs to be designed around the application, not simply added to it. Projects like this demonstrate where energy storage can provide value beyond traditional residential or commercial applications.
PowerPlus Energy manufactures battery energy storage systems for applications where reliable, independent power matters. Our team works with project partners to understand the requirements, select the right solution and support the system through its application.
Looking for an energy storage solution for your next project? Talk to the PowerPlus Energy team about what is possible.
