Approximately 40% potential energy savings were discovered from on-site generation using a combination of solar and wind. But how will the business case stack up? Monitoring and understanding energy usage provides the key.

Bulls Run Manager Scott Hughes is investigating the potential for swapping out diesel pumps for electric to irrigate selected paddocks on his 7,497-hectare lamb and cropping operation to save energy costs and water use.

Because there is no local source of water on or adjacent to the property, Garah owner and manager Bill Yates became a member of a community trust that owns and operates a large bore pump in the local area. The trust consists of 43 members, all of whom draw water from the bore. Bill is now a director of the trust. The NSW Farmers Energy Innovation program has triggered a discussion among Bill and his neighbours about what they should do after the solar feed-in tariff ends in December 2016.

Poultry farmers run sophisticated sheds that automatically regulate temperature, air quality and light conditions. This can require a lot of power, especially during heat spells. Solar PV systems provide great value for chicken growers, as they maximise energy savings during hot and sunny days.

Working with the NSW Farmers’ Energy Team, the Kensal Green farm in Gunnedah identified significant energy savings opportunities over the short, medium and longer term. Heading the list of opportunities was the use of variable speed drives (VSDs) on pumps, as well as proper ballasting of the farm’s new tractor.

Price pressures in the dairy sector are forcing dairy farmers to look for ways of cutting costs to retain reasonable margins and remain viable. “We need to increase our herd and our yield to remain in business,” says Norman McCure, owner of Binowee Dairy in New South Wales. The challenge for the McCures is to achieve improvements in yield and volume at a lower cost per litre of milk. If this challenge is met, the business could not only survive but thrive, providing sufficient motivation for taking on the additional risk and hard work that the expansion will entail. An investigation into more efficient hot water and refrigeration systems and the possibility of generating biogas on site may lead to further options for optimising Norman’s investment and delivering an estimated 30% increase in production.

With LPG around 20 to 30 percent more expensive than natural gas and the cost of LPG expected to increase over the next few years, gas-dependent poultry farmers are looking for alternatives to LPG so as to remain competitive in a growing sector. Along with exploring alternatives to costly LPG, the owners of Stratheden Glen poultry farm are implementing or considering initiatives including a lighting upgrade that will result in significant energy savings, voltage optimisation to improve the power delivered to site, and solar power for the main pump that supplies drinking water to the chickens and water for the evaporative coolers.

Killeneen is a 2,700-acre cropping and cattle property north-west of Albury, New South Wales, with 60% of the land dedicated to cropping and 40% to stock. Crops grown here include winter cereals such as canola and summer irrigated crops including lucerne, corn and beans. The farm’s energy costs are dominated by that of diesel fuel for bulk water pumping. Killeneen owner-manager Derek Schoen is keen to electrify his irrigation system. He engaged with the farm energy innovation program to explore the options for and potential efficiency gains from doing so.

Fruits of Byron is an early-to-market fruit grower for the Brisbane and Melbourne markets that may also be an early adopter of energy storage technology. “I am weighing up tried and proven solar PV to charge an electric ute,” says Mark Napper, CEO of Fruits of Byron, a boutique grower of custard apples and peaches. Other initiatives Mark’s taking include reviewing pumping options to reduce his irrigation energy costs, and energy-efficient design options for a new coolroom as part of his business expansion plans.

With Moora Citrus, WA farmer Sue Middleton is bringing quality homegrown fruit to local markets and looking to supply growing Asian demand for safe premium produce.