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It’s always nice to see a Melbourne clean-tech startup making (solar) waves. I first heard about PHNXX (pronounced Phoenix) earlier this year via Renew Economy, and later had the chance to speak with their team at Sustainability Business Live in Melbourne.

PHNXX have developed a versatile “solar-in-a-box” system which they recently deployed to a farm in Colac. A full solar power station packed into a shipping container, complete with batteries and everything needed to energise an off-grid site.

Conceived three years ago, the system can be set up in hours and easily relocated; ideal for new paddocks, construction sites, or mining operations. As PHNXX COO Wei-Chi Lee puts it: “Mounting panels on roofs and installing a battery in a shed normally takes about two weeks. We got the system running at Peter’s farm in just one day.”

Modular Power, Built for Mobility

PHNXX offers portable, modular microgrids and standalone power solutions designed to help remote industries gain energy independence and cut diesel reliance. Their systems come in three key configurations:

• Solar-in-a-Box: A pre-assembled, scalable generation module using bi-facial solar panels and wind turbines.
• Battery-in-a-Box & BESS: Containerized storage ranging from 38 kWh to over 215 kWh for on-demand power.
• Grid-in-a-Box: Fully integrated off-grid or hybrid setups combining solar, storage, and smart energy management for instant, reliable electricity.

Where it’s being deployed

• Agriculture: Active on dairy farms across regional Victoria (including Colac and Gippsland), powering robotic milking systems and slashing energy costs.
• Research & Education: Deployed at Charles Sturt University’s AgriPark in Wagga Wagga, supporting off-grid innovation paddocks and a “Vineyard of the Future.”
• Global Reach: Through partnerships like Californian firm Paired Power, PHNXX is now entering the U.S. market and expanding across APAC, including Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia.

Disaster Relief and Community Resilience

One of the most compelling uses of PHNXX’s technology I think is in disaster response. Their microgrids can be transported quickly and go fully operational within hours, making them ideal for fast-paced emergency environments. Through a joint venture with Paired Power, the focus on emergency management has become even sharper. The result is an assembly-free, plug-and-play energy grid that can be dropped into disaster zones with zero existing infrastructure and made functional in under a day. This rapid deployment capability also fuelled a partnership with the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, bringing reliable power to remote, energy-vulnerable Indigenous communities.

From rural Australia to global crisis zones, PHNXX is proving that clean, portable power isn’t just possible, it’s already here. You can read a load more about them on their website here: https://www.phnxx.io/