OUR CAPABILITY STATEMENT
COMPANY
BM ENERGY t/as OFFGRID NOW
ABN: 71 663 746 576
U2 / 5 Junction Drive,
Coolum Beach Industrial Park,
Coolum Beach, Sunshine Coast, QLD Australia
OUR TEAM
MARK LECKENBY
Mark has been an Electrical Engineer for over 40 years, is a member of the Registered Professional Engineers Queensland, and has been a keen innovator in the solar energy industry since 2008. In 2016, Mark and his wife Andrea purchased a 170-acre block in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland without a house, utilities or water, so Mark set about designing an off-grid power solution for the family home.
Through the process of getting the family home off-grid, Mark could see there was a technology cross-over coming where it would become possible for the average Australian household rooftop to support a stand-alone energy system that was cheaper and more reliably than grid power, and free of tariff manipulation.
OFFGRID NOW® was created with the vision of connecting with the off-grid community, providing 24/7 reliable power sourced from the abundant Aussie sunshine, and packaged together to protect the equipment in the harsh environments across Australia.
Founder/Electrical Engineer
BRODIE BLAIN
Brodie brings a decade of experience as a qualified Master Electrician and solar installer, servicing homes and businesses across the Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland. He’s SAA accredited for both grid-connected and off-grid systems and has strong technical expertise across residential solar projects.
Since joining the OFFGRID NOW® team in 2025, Brodie has led our installs with a focus on quality workmanship and attention to detail. Alongside his wife, Mykahla, who manages the administrative side of the business, they make a local husband-and-wife team dedicated to providing reliable off-grid solar solutions to the Sunshine Coast community.
Master Electrician
NIGEL ARNISON
If you have an OFFGRID NOW® power cabinet, the chances are that Nigel either built or supervised the assembly of your system. Meticulous in his attention to quality and detail, Nigel works tirelessly in the production side of the business to ensure that the OFFGRID NOW® power cabinets are built to the high quality standards our customers expect.
Nigel has been assembling off-grid solar systems for over 8 years, and joined the OFFGRID NOW® team in 2021. A DEYE inverter specialist, generator technician and passionate off-gridder, Nigel has lived and breathed off-grid living on his family homestead in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for over a decade and supports our customers with service and a smile, often going well out of his way to provide technical support and assistance.
Production Manager/Trade Specialist
BRAD VANDERS
Brad began his career in Call Centre Customer Service with the Public Service, before transitioning to the private sector in project management, business development, marketing and sales in the landscape construction trade, and then off-grid solar.
A problem solver and systems builder, Brad joined OFFGRID NOW® in 2024, developing the internal back office technology systems for production and sales, as well as heading up the Sales & Marketing team.
In 2026, Brad and his family relocated to the Port Stephens region of New South Wales to develop the NSW Division for OFFGRID NOW®.
Business Development, Sales & Marketing
OUR INSTALLERS
ELECT SOLAR SERVICES (South East QLD)
Elect Solar Services is an electrical and solar company based on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, family-owned and operated by husband and wife team, Brodie and Mykahla Blain. With almost a decade of experience in the Solar Industry, Elect Solar Services take pride in using top-quality products and maintaining high standards of work. Elect Solar Services core values—integrity, reliability, and excellence—drive high quality services and results. We are proud to partner with the team for OFFGRID NOW power cabinet installations in SEQ.
Contractors LIC#: 91239 (QLD)
SAA Accreditation#: S4979773
REMOTE OFF GRID ENERGY (Northern Rivers NSW)
Remote Off-Grid Energy is an Australian solar specialist driven by a passion for supporting people living and working in remote areas. The company designs and installs reliable off-grid solar systems, travelling to even the most isolated locations where grid power isn’t available. Their team is equipped to operate in harsh, rural environments and focuses on delivering dependable, self-sufficient energy solutions tailored to each client’s needs. With a commitment to quality and long-term performance, they aim to provide security, reduce costs, and ensure ongoing access to electricity for remote homes and businesses.
Contractors LIC#: 339155c (NSW)
SAA Accreditation#: s0957116
LRS ELECTRICAL AND SOLAR (Canberra Region ACT)
LRS Electrical and Solar is a Canberra-based business specialising in residential and commercial solar installations, battery systems, maintenance, and general electrical services. Founded in 2016, the company is driven by a mission to help homes and businesses transition to clean, cost-effective solar energy. They provide tailored solutions, guiding clients from consultation through to installation and ongoing support. With a strong focus on quality workmanship, reliability, and customer service, LRS offers long-term warranties and personalised service, aiming to reduce energy costs while promoting a more sustainable future for the local community.
Contractors LIC#: 20201384 (ACT)
SAA Accreditation#: TBA
LEHMANN ELECTRICAL (Newcastle and Mid-North Coast, NSW)
Sole Trader, Pasqual Lehmann.
Contractors LIC#: 232716C (NSW)
SAA Accreditation#: S2483711
HANDY HANDS ELECTRICAL (Brisbane and Gold Coast, QLD)
Sole Trader
Contractors LIC#: TBA
SAA Accreditation#: TBA
INSTALLATION MAP
OFFGRID NOW® is passionate about servicing our customers with 24/7, reliable power. We currently support over 200 off-grid customers Australia wide and growing, as shown on the Google My Map.
CASE STUDY: Noosa Marina
Noosa Marina provides a strong example of how solar can be integrated into a commercial, multi-tenant environment to significantly reduce energy costs while improving long-term sustainability. Faced with rising electricity demand and operating expenses, the marina installed a 100 kW solar PV system across its available roof space, paired with an advanced energy management system.
The solar system was designed to supply power to shared infrastructure as well as individual tenants, including retail stores, restaurants, and tourism operators. Being over 30kW in size, Noosa Marina required an RPEQ certified engineer to sign off with Energex which was carried out by Mark Leckenby along with necessary project management. By generating electricity during the day—when demand is highest—the marina is able to directly offset a large portion of its grid consumption. This mirrors the principle seen in the attached case study, where aligning solar generation with daytime usage maximises savings and efficiency.
The impact on energy costs has been substantial. Prior to installation, the marina’s electricity bill averaged approximately $10,000 per month. Following the implementation of solar, the resulting savings allowed the owner to pass on around 20% of these savings to the tenants, improving affordability and supporting long-term tenancy retention.
The inclusion of the energy system further enhances performance by providing real-time monitoring of energy generation and consumption. This allows marina management to identify inefficiencies, manage peak demand, and optimise load usage—further reducing costs beyond the solar contribution alone. Similar to the school case study, this combination of solar generation and energy intelligence drives deeper savings than solar alone.
Overall, the Noosa Marina solar installation demonstrates how commercial sites can leverage renewable energy not only to reduce electricity bills, but also to create shared financial benefits, improve asset value, and future-proof operations against rising energy prices.
CASE STUDY: Coolum Beach Christian College
The solar component of Coolum Beach Christian College is a key part of its sustainable design, closely integrated with the building’s architecture. The use of skillion roofs, angled and oriented north, allows optimal solar exposure, ensuring efficient energy generation without additional structural complexity.
The system includes a 70 kW solar array on the auditorium roof, producing approximately 300 kWh per day (Designed by OFFGRID NOW® Founder and REPQ certified member, Mark Leckenby). As the school operates mainly during daylight hours, much of this energy is used on-site, reducing dependence on grid power and improving efficiency.
Solar works alongside passive design features such as insulation, ventilation, and building orientation, which reduce overall energy demand. This combined approach enhances the effectiveness of the solar system. As a result, the school’s power costs were significantly reduced, with solar contributing around 20% of savings and helping lower monthly electricity bills by over $1,000 in 2016.
An energy management system further improves performance by providing detailed insights into energy use, enabling waste reduction and smarter load control. The system also supports future expansion, with plans to increase solar capacity, reinforcing the school’s long-term sustainability and cost efficiency.
CASE STUDY: City of Hope
City of Hope in Coffs Harbour showcases how solar can underpin a truly self-sufficient lifestyle, as demonstrated through the experience of homeowners David and Lisa. Their home is part of a broader eco-development designed to operate on 100% renewable energy, with solar generation forming the core of this vision.
At the heart of their system is an OFFGRID NOW® ROBUSTA 12 kW solar PV array paired with a 30 kWh battery, enabling the home to generate and store its own electricity. This setup allows energy captured during the day to be used at night or during low sunlight periods, ensuring continuous power supply without reliance on the grid, including charging a Tesla EV. For David and Lisa, this has meant living completely off-grid for over two years, with no need to connect to external electricity infrastructure.
Their story highlights not only the technical performance of the system but also its real-world reliability. Even during wider power outages in Coffs Harbour, their home continued to operate normally, allowing them to maintain everyday comfort—and even host gatherings—while others experienced blackouts. This demonstrates the resilience and independence that a well-designed solar and battery system can provide.
The effectiveness of the solar system is further enhanced by the home’s energy-efficient design. Features such as LED lighting, solar hot water, and an induction cooktop reduce overall demand, allowing the solar system to comfortably meet household needs. In addition, the BM Energy management system provides detailed monitoring and control, helping David and Lisa optimise their energy use and avoid waste.
More broadly, the City of Hope development integrates solar into a holistic sustainable design approach, combining renewable energy, passive design, and smart technology to achieve energy independence and long-term cost savings.
MODULAR HOMES / TINY HOMES
OFFGRID NOW® are actively working with modular and tiny homes builders to help create an entire living package that is affordable, sustainable and free of energy bills. Around this framework the OFFGRID NOW® Piccolo, Excelso and Daily Grind Energy systems were born.
Some of our partners include:
LJM Tiny Homes QLD
Aussie Tiny Homes QLD
Sunshine Tiny Homes QLD
Oly Homes QLD
Tiny Solar Homes NSW
Strive Modular NSW
