Solar pumping and energy efficiency workshop for irrigators

Cotton Australia, CottonInfo, and the NSW Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) invite growers, irrigators, farm managers and service providers from across the Namoi and Gwydir River districts to a free, information-packed half-day workshop tackling energy costs, energy-efficiency gains and opportunities for renewable energy on farm.

The Narrabri workshop will cover:

• cost and energy bill savings;
• ways to reduce emissions for existing irrigation systems;
• solar pumping systems;
• renewables case studies; and
• government funding options to assist growers and irrigators with energy-efficiency infrastructure.

Event program

The content of the event relates mainly to cotton growers but will be relevant to all irrigated farms. Topics and speakers include:

• a session overview (Amy Kean, NSW Government Renewable Energy Advocate);
• understanding your electricity bill: electricity tariffs and pricing
• key findings from energy audits on irrigated broadacre farms (Cotton Australia, NSW and OEH)
• opportunities to reduce emissions and save using renewables in irrigation systems:
  • irrigation and renewables research: the Texas High Plain;
  • solar/grid hybrid irrigation systems: Namoi case study results;
  • solar/diesel hybrid irrigation systems: Macquarie case study results;
  • other ‘real life’ examples: grower experiences using renewables;
  • incentives for energy efficiency under the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund and Renewable Energy Target: Jon Welsh, CottonInfo Carbon Technical Specialist;
• a guide to feasibility and solar pumping system design (Gerry Flores, NSW Farmers Energy Innovation Manager); and
• commercial renewable energy providers: industrial-scale technology.

Why you should attend

Cotton Australia Regional Manager (Namoi, Gwydir, Walgett and Bourke) Paul Sloman says the workshop will provide sound advice to growers and irrigators to help them tackle energy costs. “Growers will be provided with practical tools … so they can feel more empowered when discussing and negotiating their farm’s energy charges and tariffs with their energy provider,” Sloman says.

“We know that a number of growers have been considering large-scale renewables on farm for some years now. The workshops will present growers with the initial findings from a range of on-farm energy audits that have concluded recently,” Sloman says.

“Renewables in primary production are in an early stage of adoption. We encourage growers who aren’t using renewables to attend – it’s a great chance to engage with growers and experts who will share their first-hand experience with renewables.”

Register now!

The conference runs for three hours from 10.30am, with morning tea from 10 am. Prior registration is essential. To register, contact Paul Sloman on 0448 094 883 or email PaulS@cotton.org.au

The workshop is funded by the NSW Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and Cotton Australia with funding support from the Australian Government, and is supported by CottonInfo, NSW Irrigators’ Council (NSWIC) and NSW Farmers.

Cotton Australia is the peak representative body for Australia’s cotton growing industry.

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