| 1.6 MW Total battery storage across 8 SolaX AELIO cabinets | 760 kW Solar paired with the storage (1,700+ panels) | 8 Fijian electricians trained end to end to operate the system | 24/7 AI driven state of charge management, real time monitoring via SolaXCloud App |
A close look at the SolaX AELIO modular battery storage and SolaXCloud App monitoring behind Yasawa Island Resorts – and what it means for commercial operators in New Zealand and the Pacific.
Executive summary
Recently we shared the main Yasawa Islands Solar Project case study – the full story of how three remote Fijian resorts cut their reliance on imported diesel with solar and battery storage. This companion piece zooms in on the part doing the quiet heavy lifting: the SolaX AELIO modular batteries, the SolaXCloud App monitoring, and what the operator actually noticed once the system went live. Future Energy designed, project-managed and installed the system, with SolaX Power Australia as battery technology partner.
For the project economics – fuel savings, payback and carbon – head to the main Yasawa case study. Here, we are talking batteries.
The battery system at a glance
At the heart of the project is 1.6 MW of battery storage across eight SolaX AELIO modular cabinets – deployed where each site needed it, and expandable to MWh-scale as the resorts grow.
| Resort | AELIO cabinets | Battery storage |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus Resort | 2 units | 400 kWh |
| Blue Lagoon | 3 units | 600 kWh |
| Paradise Cove | 3 units | 600 kWh |
| Total | 8 units | 1.6 MW |
Paired with 760 kW of solar (1,700+ panels), the cabinets store surplus generation during the day and run the resorts through the evening – the difference between solar that only works when the sun is up and a system that can power the property around the clock.
AELIO, by the numbers
Each AELIO cabinet is a self-contained, all in one hybrid energy storage system built for tough commercial sites:
| AELIO specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Configuration | 50 kW / 60 kW hybrid ESS cabinet; each unit holds 24 battery modules |
| Battery chemistry | High density LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cells |
| Enclosure rating | IP66-rated inverter | IP55 cabinet – built for coastal heat, humidity and salt air |
| Fire safety | Four level fire safety protection |
| Energy management | AI driven state of charge (SOC) management, 24/7 – minimal human oversight |
| Grid modes | Grid tied and off grid capable |
| PV oversizing | Up to 200% |
| Scalability | Modular – expandable from a single cabinet to MWh scale |
Why modular battery storage changes the commercial maths
The biggest barrier to commercial battery storage usually is not the technology – it is the cheque. A conventional system asks an operator to fund their entire future load on day one. The AELIO system is modular: you start sized to today’s load and add cabinets as you grow, or as cash flow allows. At Yasawa that meant rolling out eight cabinets across three islands over time, not one daunting upfront commitment.
“The AELIO system was a big part of why this project was viable. Modular battery storage that scales with the business means a commercial operator does not have to write the whole cheque up front to get started. That is the difference between ‘great idea’ and ‘we are doing it.'”
– Future Energy
Real time visibility: what the operator actually noticed
Capacity gets a project off the ground. Visibility is what changes how a business runs day to day. The SolaXCloud App shows the resort team consumption, solar generation and battery state in real time – viewable from anywhere in the world. For owner Nick Wood, that turned out to be the biggest surprise of the whole project.
“What surprised us the most was having access to the information SolaX provides – what is going on at the property: consumption, solar generation, battery capacity, load on the overall network. We never had that information before. We can view from anywhere in the world.”
– Nick Wood, Owner, Yasawa Island Resorts
That visibility is operational, not just technical. When something needs attention, the team can see it happening live and act on it immediately, from wherever they are – rather than waiting for a problem to surface on site. And the data is now shaping how the resorts plan their growth:
“It changes how we plan. We can see exactly where energy is going and when, so we make better decisions about new restaurants, new rooms, new load.”
– Nick Wood, Owner, Yasawa Island Resorts
The SolaXCloud App also enabled something the original design never anticipated: running the whole resort network off the system, with the existing diesel generators retained as backup and integrated to run only at a minimum operating load when called on. The result is the resilience of a generator without the cost of running one hard – a setup the SolaX team built in software to suit the site.
Engineered for the conditions
The Yasawa Islands push energy hardware to its limits: coastal heat, tropical rain, humidity, salt air, zero grid and no local supply chain. Every component was shipped in by container. The batteries had to be built for it – and stay reliable for the long haul.
“The Yasawa Islands presented conditions that push energy systems to their limits. With no grid infrastructure, no local supply chain and exposure to coastal heat, tropical rain, humidity and salt air, every component had to be shipped by container and engineered for long-term reliability and durability.”
– Danny Fang, Senior Field Application Engineer, SolaX Power Australia
Important point of accuracy: this is an off grid system with diesel generators retained as backup, which is the norm for remote off grid sites – not a shortcoming. The batteries carry the load; the generators are there for additional resilience.
A partnership built for the Pacific
As battery technology partner, SolaX supplied the AELIO storage system and provided site inspection, commissioning, design review and on the ground operations and maintenance training – with eight local electricians, none with prior solar experience, trained end to end to run the system themselves.
“Providing on the ground support means genuine local ownership and long-term technical capability for the project on the islands, reducing reliance on expensive external technical support.”
– Danny Fang, Senior Field Application Engineer, SolaX Power Australia
“Our partnership with Future Energy shows what is possible in remote, off grid conditions. This solution is available to any operator across the Pacific still relying on expensive imported diesel.”
– Joey Zhang, General Manager, SolaX Power Australia
As a SolaX Platinum installer, Future Energy brings the AELIO to commercial and off grid projects across New Zealand and the Pacific.
What this means for your site
If modular battery storage can perform in one of the most remote, demanding environments in the Pacific, it can perform almost anywhere. Remote resorts and lodges, island communities, rural facilities and off grid industrial sites across New Zealand and the Pacific face the same question: how do you cut reliance on expensive imported diesel without betting the business on a single upfront spend?
“If we can do it here, we can do it anywhere. The barriers to solar and battery storage are lower than most businesses think – and right now, reducing reliance on diesel has real benefits, not just for the environment but for the bottom line.”
– Alastair Mortensen, Director, Future Energy
If you are weighing up battery storage for a commercial site, start with the modular question: size it to today’s load, then scale as you grow or as cash flow allows. Add real time monitoring through the SolaXCloud App, and you have the combination that turns a good idea into a working system.
Frequently asked questions
What battery system was used at the Yasawa Island Resorts?
The SolaX AELIO – eight modular hybrid ESS cabinets totalling 1.6 MW of battery storage, paired with 760 kW of solar across Paradise Cove, Blue Lagoon and Octopus Resort.
How much battery storage was installed at each resort?
Octopus Resort: 2 cabinets (400 kWh). Blue Lagoon: 3 cabinets (600 kWh). Paradise Cove: 3 cabinets (600 kWh). Total: 8 cabinets, 1.6 MW.
What does the SolaXCloud App show?
The SolaXCloud App provides real-time consumption, solar generation, battery state and load across the network, viewable from anywhere in the world – so the operator can see and respond to issues live and use the data to plan future load.
Did the project eliminate diesel generators?
No. The resorts run predominantly on solar and battery storage but retain diesel generators as backup – standard for remote off-grid sites. The generators are integrated to run only at a minimum operating load.
What is modular battery storage and why does it matter for commercial operators?
Modular battery storage lets an operator install capacity sized to today’s load and add cabinets as demand grows or as cash flow allows, avoiding a single large upfront cost and lowering the barrier to getting started.
Can SolaX AELIO work for a New Zealand or Pacific commercial site?
Yes. The same modular approach suits remote resorts, lodges, island communities, rural facilities and off-grid industrial sites across New Zealand and the Pacific. As a SolaX Platinum installer, Future Energy can scope a system for your load and growth plans.
Talk to us about commercial battery storage
Exploring battery storage for a commercial site?
Whether you operate a remote resort, an island community facility, a rural site or an off-grid industrial operation in New Zealand or the Pacific, we will walk you through how the SolaX AELIO could work for your site. Get in touch via the contact page or email commercial@future-energy.co.nz.
Future Energy NZ · 0800 338 363 · future-energy.co.nz · commercial@future-energy.co.nz
Read more
The full Yasawa Islands Solar Project case study covers the project economics – 50% diesel cost saving projected for year one, NZ$630K annual fuel saving, 2-3 year payback and 464 tonnes of CO2 avoided each year.
