Grundfos has delivered a solar-powered pumping solution to a remote hay farm and tourism business in Australia’s Northern Territory, significantly improving water reliability while cutting fuel costs and emissions.
Installed at Athelle Outback Hideaway, located 200km north of Alice Springs, the system features six Grundfos SPE submersible pumps – marking their first deployment in the Australian market. Designed for extreme environments, the pumps provide a dependable water supply in an arid region where temperatures exceed 40°C and rainfall averages just 15cm annually.
The site, owned by Anthony and Danyelle Haigh, supports both a 60-hectare hay farm supplying the Northern Territory’s beef industry and an award-winning holiday park. Previously reliant on diesel generators, the business faced high operating costs, inefficiencies and maintenance challenges that threatened productivity.
By switching to solar-powered SPE pumps, the property has gained an additional 40–60 minutes of daily pumping capacity while saving around 100,000 litres of fuel and more than A$210,000 per year. The pumps’ permanent magnet motors and variable frequency drives enable efficient operation and adaptability to changing sunlight conditions.
The installation was carried out in collaboration with the Grundfos Dealer Network, including Think Water Alice Springs, whose local expertise helped tailor the solution to the region’s demanding conditions.
Anthony Haigh, co-owner of Athelle Outback Hideaway, said: “Solar just made sense for us here in the Northern Territory, especially in summer when there’s plenty of sun and the most demand for water. The SPE pumps give us an extra 20 minutes of pumping in the morning and evening, which means we’re saving money and using less fuel. Having that reliable water supply is critical for running both a productive farm and a sustainable tourism business out here in the harsh Outback conditions.”
“Operating in remote environments like Central Australia demands water solutions that are both reliable and energy efficient,” said Rick Holland, Country Director Grundfos Australia and Vice President APAC and China. “The SPE pump technology is designed to maximise solar energy and deliver consistent performance in challenging conditions. By working closely with our dealer network, we’re able to help customers secure dependable water supply while reducing operating costs and environmental impact.”
