The Challenge: High-Stakes Power for Off-Grid Agricultural Operations
When Envirosol took on two large-scale off-grid projects for Amish egg-laying barns, Conrad Miller knew how important they were to their clients. The systems needed to work as the primary power source for 600-foot-long barns that depended on constant electricity.
Lighting, automated feed lines, cooling fans, and heating systems all rely on uninterrupted power. In peak summer conditions, a loss of ventilation could become catastrophic in minutes.
“If power goes off for a barn like that, they’ve got, I mean, if it’s in the dead of summer, they’ve got probably 10 minutes to get the power back on, or the chickens will die because of not having enough ventilation and getting too hot.”
Each system needed to deliver consistent, reliable energy across an entire operation, with no margin for failure.
Why Rubix: Maximum Capacity in a Limited Footprint
Both chicken farm projects were big projects, and Envirosol needed to fit as much storage as possible into a containerized system with strict height and floor-space limitations. This smaller footprint made battery selection critical.
After evaluating multiple options, Conrad chose Rubix R-Series batteries.
“I haven’t seen another battery on the market where we could have fit the amount of battery capacity into the storage size that the, how should I say, the area constraints that we had as far as floor footprint.”
Each system included 41 batteries, arranged in 11 vertical stacks with overhead busbar connections. The compact, stackable design made it possible to achieve the required capacity without expanding the space the system takes up.
With this configuration and the R-Series, Conrad gave Envirosol a dense, efficient energy storage system capable of supporting full-scale agricultural operations.
Built for Real-World Complexity
This was the largest and most complex battery-based system Envirosol had ever installed. Every phase required careful planning and adaptation.
Despite the scale, Conrad didn’t worry about getting the batteries to work.
“As far as the battery integration, that was very simple and straightforward.”
One challenge emerged: there is currently a limit on the number of batteries that can be linked in a closed-loop. But by working directly with Rubix early in the design phase, Envirosol planned around the limitation.
Rubix sees the limitation as a place to improve and expand.
Rubix is actively developing a solution to expand communication capabilities without impacting system performance in the meantime.
“It really didn’t affect the performance of the system. It will just, once Rubix has the solution for it or the fix for it, we will be able to better track exactly what’s happening and have better monitoring.”
A Partner From Day One
From initial system sizing to post-installation support, Rubix played an active role throughout the project.
“I started talking with Rubix about it right from the get-go because I knew there would potentially be that limitation of how many batteries can be basically plugged into each other to communicate because I knew other battery brands had those limitations as well.”
Rubix’s partnership with Conrad means solutions were already in motion before challenges arose.
Beyond engineering, ongoing support has reinforced that partnership.
“If we do have issues, we can talk to them. They’ll work on it. They’ll get a fix for us.”
Whether they’re troubleshooting or replacing components, Rubix focuses on resolving problems quickly and completely.
“[They’re] not just bandaging over things, but actually fixing the root problem.”
The Result: Reliable Power for Mission-Critical Systems
Both installations are now running successfully, delivering stable power to demanding, high-load environments.
Despite the size and investment, Envirosol’s customers’ response has been positive. They’re pleased with how their systems are working.
“He is looking back now, he’s really happy that he did get us to install the system and went with the system that he did because it’s working very well, and he sees that overall it’s a very good quality end result, so to speak.”
With consistent performance across essential systems—from ventilation to feeding—these farmers now operate their barns with confidence in their power supply.
Ready to See Why Installers Trust Rubix?
Talk to our team about how Rubix batteries can help you design high-performance systems, maximize space, and deliver reliable power, no matter how demanding the application.
Conrad Miller, Owner, Envirosol
A solar installation and electrical services company with over 15 years of hands-on industry experience specializing in everything from off-grid systems to hybrid and grid-tied solar.