40ft Standard/High Cube Solar Shipping Container House

The HighJoule 40ft Solar Shipping Container Home is a self-sufficient, off-the-grid home built on a rugged shipping container platform. Corten steel construction and high-efficiency solar energy are integrated to create a portable home or office that can operate free of local utility sources. With rooftop-mounted monocrystalline PV panels and lithium-ion batteries, it generates and stores its own power, offering total comfort – including refrigeration, air conditioning, hot water and lighting – in the most isolated regions. This entire system is crane- or truck-portable and operates at industrial-grade durability (wind- and watertight, fire-resistance, and usable in –40 °C to desert heat), ideal for individuals, companies and relief agencies requiring rapid-deployment green housing or workspaces.

Detailed Description

Structure & Materials

The base is a typical 40ft or 40ft High Cube ISO container constructed of 14‑gauge Corten anti-corrosive steel. High-cube option adds one foot of roof height (289.56 cm external height) to add interior space. Flooring is marine-grade plywood to withstand heavy loads, and top-quality rubber gaskets seal the unit wind‑ and watertight. Roof and walls are fully insulated (e.g. spray-foam or rigid foam) to control interior climate; testing proves the insulated shell can withstand extremes from –40 °C to high desert heat. Doors and windows (optional) can be added for natural ventilation and illumination. Overall, the container structure is ISO-standard stackable and strong with tough long-term durability.

Solar Power & Energy System

High-efficiency monocrystalline solar PV panels on the roof collect the sun’s energy each day. An installation can be dozens of panels (e.g. ~20 kW) delivering on the order of 50–60 kWh/day in good sun. DC charged power drives an on-board LiFePO₄ battery pack (optional ~5 kWh to ~30 kWh) to store surplus energy. A high-intelligence hybrid inverter manages power supply, converting AC if required but also driving critical appliances directly in DC to minimize losses. In practice, 24/7 operation is facilitated: solar charges batteries during the day and turns off automatically at night to battery energy. The result is a peaceful, fuel-free power generation system providing steady AC (110/220 V) and 48–60 V DC power to all equipment.

Mobility & Modularity

The container shape enables the house to be fully mobile: it can be crane-lifted or placed on a flatbed/tilt-bed truck for over-the-road transportation to new sites. For bigger projects, multiple units can be coupled end-to-end into compound configurations – i.e., two 40ft units end-to-end create a duplex, or string modules (bathroom, kitchen, storage) can provide footprint extension. Its modularity even supports hybrid energy arrangements: extra PV arrays or even micro-wind turbines can be introduced where available, augmenting output as needed. This plug-and-play setup enables an array of such houses to be rapidly installed and enlarged at a campsite, or off-site office complex, without having to construct onsite.

Comfort & Livability

Despite its tiny footprint (~29.7–34.4 m² per unit), the container house is outfitted very much like a modern mini home. Interior spaces typically include sleeping areas (bed frames), small kitchenette (sink, mini-fridge), bathroom (toilet, shower) and LED lighting. Comfort devices like air conditioner, water heater, refrigerator and even luxuries like coffee maker or Wi-Fi router are powered through the solar/battery power system. For maximum efficiency, some subsystems (water pump, lights, DC fans) run on low-voltage DC directly. A water treatment and recycling system for the cabin consists of: rainwater collection provides a multi-stage filter and UV sterilizer to furnish drinking and wash water off-grid. In general, the unit is akin to a “smart home on wheels” – its monitoring/control system enables power levels to be viewed by managers, settings or troubleshoot remotely through an app.