Solar pumps transform water supply for remote NT farm

Grundfos has helped improve the water reliability and overall performance of a remote Northern Territory property, enabling it to operate as a sustainable hay farm supplying Northern Australia’s beef industry.

Located 200 km north of Alice Springs, the Athelle Outback Hideaway now uses Grundfos SPE solar pumps to secure a reliable water supply in one of Australia’s most arid environments, where temperatures regularly climb past 40°C and rainfall is scarce, averaging just 15 cm.

By extending pumping windows by 60 minutes, the new system provides dependable irrigation for the farm while significantly reducing costs and improving overall performance, supporting a more water-secure and sustainable business.

In the extreme climate 200 km north of Alice Springs, water security is the top priority for the Athelle Outback Hideaway and its owners Anthony and Danyelle Haigh. The 60-hectare property supports a vital hay farm for the Northern Territory’s beef industry and a holiday park, making a reliable water supply the backbone of the business.

Previously, the farm relied on older diesel generators that were expensive to run, inefficient and unreliable, resulting in costly repairs and long trips to get them repaired.

In such a remote and arid location, any equipment failure is a direct threat to livestock, crops and essential infrastructure. This created an urgent need for a reliable solar-powered system that could withstand the conditions and secure the long-term future of their business.

The Grundfos SPE pump is a submersible pump designed to deliver reliable water flow from bores, even in tough conditions. With adjustable pump speed, the system can respond to changing sunlight and irrigation demand throughout the day, providing Anthony and Danyelle with a dependable and efficient water supply.

Its Permanent Magnet Motor and Variable Frequency Drive mean that they are far more efficient and require far less power than traditional pumps. For the Haigh family at the Hideaway, this means an extra 40–60 minutes of daily pumping powered entirely by the sun.

According to Danyelle Haigh, switching to Grundfos’s solar integrated system has cut diesel generator costs, saving around 100,000 L of fuel and more than AU$210,000 a year.

These motors run cooler, last longer, and lose less energy as heat, making them suitable for solar set-ups where every watt counts — delivering higher savings, improved reliability and a reduced environmental footprint to help ensure the Hideaway remains both economically and ecologically sustainable for years to come.

The successful installation of six Grundfos SPE pumps at Athelle Outback Hideaway supplies water to six pivots growing a variety of hay species, as well as lemon, agave, almond and mulberry orchards. This was made possible through collaboration between the property owners and the Grundfos Dealer Network, specifically Think Water Alice Springs.

Leveraging its strong local knowledge of the Northern Territory’s unique water challenges, Think Water played a key role in recommending the Grundfos SPE pump as the most reliable solution for the property’s extreme conditions, supported by the expertise of Grundfos Pumps Australia, whose positive, solutions-focused approach ensured the system was optimised for the job.

The dealer network is also equipped with reliable products, technical expertise and responsive service. From start to finish, the project showed what strong partnerships and a shared focus on sustainable innovation can achieve in the Outback.

Anthony Haigh 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.”

The video below explores the implementation of Grundfos high-efficiency submersible pumps at Athelle Outback Hideaway to support sustainable irrigation.

 

Rick Holland, Country Director Grundfos Australia and Vice President APAC and China, said, “Operating in remote environments like Central Australia demands water solutions that are both reliable and energy-efficient. 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.”

Top image caption: Athelle Outback Hideaway. Image: Supplied.