Caltex is using energy from the Sun to better supply fossil fuels in outback areas.

The company has unveiled what it calls the world’s first solar-powered mobile petrol station.

Caltex Australia's has set up the new diesel refuelling sites at Tom Price and Onslow, over 13,000km from Perth. Both station have no mains power and rely instead on abundant solar energy and on-site battery storage.

The company says it wants to use the technology to extend the reach of its National Truck Network, which currently includes 200 dedicated truck stops across the country.

“The biggest challenge of supplying fuel in remote parts of Australia isn’t getting fuel there – after all, we have fuel storage at the site and a great logistics team able to make regular deliveries,” Caltex Network Development Manager for Western Australia Leon Calvetti has told reporters.

“The obstacle is powering the pumps so the fuel can get into the customer’s tank – it’s very expensive and inefficient to run a generator when there are only a handful of customers every day.

“It’s also difficult to locate staff in the middle of the Pilbara many hours’ drive from the nearest major town.

“By creating what we believe are the world’s first fully solar-powered fuel facilities, we can efficiently provide diesel in some of the most remote locations of Australia.

“The other benefit of these sites will come when, at some stage in the future, there is no longer the same demand in that area – if that happens we can simply relocate the entire facility to a new part of the country, as everything on the site is easily transportable by truck.

“The whole design is tailored to Australian conditions, given the abundant sun and the long distances between service stations.”

He said the new Caltex sites would offer diesel 24 hours a day, by way of a card payment system.

“These sites offer the same high-quality diesel available elsewhere across our national network and customers can access it at any time,” Mr Calvetti said.

“But in such remote locations, with only a limited number of customers driving past, don’t expect all the typical services available at other Caltex sites.

“While these no-frills facilities won’t provide a pie, a can of soft drink or ice creams, they will help keep drivers of heavy transport and four-wheel-drive vehicles supplied with the diesel they need to get to the next town for a well-earned rest.”