Case Study: Off-Grid Tiny Home, Waiheke Island, New Zealand

The tiny home market is a rapidly growing industry in New Zealand. This growth has been driven by a wide range of reasons, including city siders wanting a weekend getaway to escape populated areas by spending more socially distanced time in the country, retirees and divorcees wanting to downsize to something more affordable. Also, young married couples who cannot afford a mortgage for a first home and / or do not wish to borrow to buy tiny homes much yet also. Often, they are placing them in the front of back yard of an existing family home so they could still live independently while they saved up for their own block of land.

Other reasons include developers sourcing tiny homes as a source of holiday accommodation, Airbnb's or families wanting to care for an older loved one close to family home.

The designs are just as varied as the uses and rural communities and backyards are the most common locations.

This 0.62kWp ground mount array was installed in a residential home on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. The system consist of 1 x Outback GFX 1,400VA 12Vdc Inv/Chrger solar inverter.

This solar system is off-grid with 3kWhr of GEL Batteries. The PV modules were ground mounted using industrial grade aluminium IronRidge XRS tilt frame system to withstand upto 80m/s (Region D) wind rating.

All protection equipment, wiring and design practices are as per the AS/NZS 5033.

Some of the challenges of this project included:

• This tiny home could only fit 2 solar panels
• 100% off grid – no access to on-grid power
• Required sufficient power storage for five-day periods
• Tight budget

The outcome and key benefits of the solution include:

• Full self-sufficiency from installation of solar, inverter and battery storage systems from tiny system
• Successful project installation on tight budget
• This solar system will generate 0.82MWh/year of solar energy for the homeowner.