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Off Grid Solar Systems Australia: Yurt & Dome Guide 2026

Thinking about living in a yurt or dome, or setting one up as a retreat or studio? At some point you’ll hit the big question: “How do we actually power this thing?”

For most people in Australia, the answer ends up being some version of an off-grid solar system – panels, batteries, inverter, maybe a backup generator. It’s not magic, it’s not “free power forever”, and it definitely isn’t one-size-fits-all. But when it’s sized properly, it works well and keeps life comfortable.

This article is based on what we see again and again in real yurt and dome builds across Australia and NZ. Use it as a starting point for your own research and planning.

Why Off-Grid Solar Works Well for Yurts & Domes

Yurts and domes are usually out on acreage, bush blocks, farms or coastal properties – places where running grid power can be eye-wateringly expensive or simply not an option. In that context, a decent off-grid system makes a lot of sense:

Energy independence (with limits): If there’s a blackout in town, you probably won’t notice.
No ongoing power bills: You’re trading monthly bills for a one-off setup cost.
Perfect for remote blocks: Off-grid solar is often cheaper than paying tens of thousands for poles and wires.
Cleaner than running a generator full-time: A small generator is still handy for bad weather but rarely needed.

Big reality check: off-grid isn’t the same as a suburban connection. High-draw appliances (electric ovens, ducted AC, electric hot water, dryers) need planning or alternatives.

Off-Grid Solar Systems: The Basics

An off-grid solar system is basically a small, private power station for your yurt or dome. It usually includes:

Solar panels
Batteries
An inverter
A charge controller
Wiring, fuses, breakers and mounts

Solar Panels

Panels turn sunlight into DC electricity. For most setups, monocrystalline panels are the go-to: efficient, widely available and compact.

Batteries

Most off-grid systems now use LiFePO4 lithium batteries. They’re long-lasting, stable and low-maintenance.

You’re mostly deciding how much storage you want and how many days of bad weather you want to ride out.

Inverters

A pure sine wave inverter is ideal – clean, quiet power that works with modern appliances. Many systems use hybrid inverters so a generator can top things up when needed.

Other Gear

MPPT charge controller: Maximises energy harvest.
Safe wiring & protection: Whether DIY or not, this needs to be done properly.
Mounting hardware: Especially important in windy regions.

How Big a System Do You Actually Need?

The only honest way is to list your appliances, estimate run time, and tally up your daily kWh use. Here’s a realistic example for a couple in an 8m dome:

Appliance	Wattage	Hours of Use	Daily Watt-Hours
LED Lights (x8)	8W	4	256
Efficient Fridge	100W avg	8	800
Laptop (x2)	60W	4	480
Phones (x2)	10W	3	60
TV	80W	2	160
Water Pump	500W	0.3	150
Total			≈1.9 kWh/day

Add some buffer and you’re at ~2.4 kWh/day. Plenty of families live comfortably on systems in this range.

Recommended System Sizes for Yurts & Domes

Scenario	Daily Energy Use	Recommended System Size	Estimated Daily Production
Weekend Retreat	0.5–1.5 kWh	0.6–1.2kW solar, 3–5kWh battery	2–5 kWh
Part-Time Living	1.5–3 kWh	1–2kW solar, 5–8kWh battery	4–8 kWh
Full-Time Couple	2–4 kWh	1.5–3kW solar, 7–12kWh battery	6–12 kWh
Full-Time Family	3–6 kWh	2–3kW solar, 8–14kWh battery	8–14 kWh

Off-Grid Solar Costs in Australia (2026)

DIY vs Done-For-You

Scenario	DIY / Semi-DIY Hardware	Done-For-You Installed
Weekend Retreat	$1,500 – $3,000	$3,500 – $7,000+
Part-Time Living	$2,000 – $4,500	$5,000 – $10,000+
Full-Time Couple	$3,000 – $6,000	$7,000 – $15,000+
Full-Time Family	$4,000 – $8,000	$10,000 – $20,000+

DIY/semi-DIY numbers assume you’re comfortable doing the research and the physical work. Done-for-you covers people who want a packaged system with minimal hands-on time.

DIY vs Professional Install

Most yurt and dome owners use a hybrid approach:

Research the system themselves
Source components
Mount panels, run conduit, build frames
Get a sparky for final 240V sign-off

Others prefer a turnkey install. Both approaches work — what matters is that it’s safe, tidy and makes sense for your lifestyle.

Real-World Example: 8m Yurt Setup

System: ~2.5–3kW solar + 8–12kWh lithium battery
Use Case: Lights, fridge, laptops, water pump, devices, TV, occasional tools
Budget: ~$4,000–$6,000 DIY-style

This size of system is what a surprising number of families actually run successfully for years.

Common Off-Grid Challenges

Cloudy streaks: Usually solved with a backup generator.
Power awareness: Running big loads when the sun’s out makes a huge difference.
Under-sizing: Better to size it right upfront than wish you did later.