The Drews are investigating a solar PV system for their homestead and their piggery to deliver power for lighting, feed augers and heat lamps for the piglets. “We are keen to reduce our dependency on the grid and save on running costs so that we have a prosperous future,” says Nick Drew, a fourth-generation pig farmer. Other energy-saving initiatives Nick is implementing or considering include installing more efficient heat lamps in the nursery and switching the mill over from a PTO off the back of an old 30hp Massey Ferguson tractor, to 21 and 6hp electric motors for the hammer mill and the mixer. The current set-up incurs significant losses, with a five-metre belt drive and limited capacity to vary motor speed to suit the load.

The Glenwarrie Partnership near Tamworth recently invested in a state-of-the-art caged egg-laying system with packing machines and highly efficient automated feed and watering systems - however, a significant cost savings opportunity was missed...