Agriculture

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Farms are major users of energy. Pumps, tractors, cool storage, harvesting, maintaining crops and livestock facilities all require large amounts of energy.

While wages, exchange rates and commodity prices are set by external factors, direct actions by farmers can help reduce energy expenses as a proportion of the overall farm budget.

Opportunities exist for Australian farmers to better control their energy costs by:

improving practices and systems
changing or modifying equipment
switching to alternative, less expensive energy sources
purchasing energy more strategically.

Cotton

Energy is one of the fastest growing costs for cotton growers. Electricity and diesel accounts for up to 50% of grower’s total input costs meaning significant opportunities to improve profitability.

The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) has developed energy-efficiency information for cotton growing businesses to implement and reduce operating costs.

The following case studies and resources show how cotton businesses are reducing energy use and costs.

Baan Baa – Diesel to gas conversion. Demonstrates how a Baan Baa, NSW, cotton farmer is reducing his energy costs by converting his diesel engines to a hybrid of diesel and gas.
Comet – Integrating alternative energy solutions. A study into the energy use of a Queensland irrigator, including analysis on the farm's centre-pivot, river pump and grain-drying facilities.
Goondiwindi – Pump evaluation. Information on testing individual pumping set-ups to identify the optimum operating point to achieve maximum efficiency.
CottonInfo – Factsheets
- energy assessment and management
- reducing farm energy costs
- energy use in cotton
- pumping efficiency
- pumps in the Australian cotton industry
- pump cavitation
- monitoring tractor fuel use
- tractor setup

For more information on energy management in the cotton industry see the CottonInfo website.

Dairy

Energy costs account for a significant proportion of dairy farm overheads, in particular milk cooling, milk harvesting and hot water production. Improving energy efficiency in these areas can enhance sustainability and reduce costs.

The Australian Government has funded the development of energy-efficiency information through Dairy Australia for the country’s 1400 dairy farms.

The Dairy Australia website includes information and resources to reduce energy costs and better manage land, water and climate to improve farm production and profitability.

Some of Dairy Australia’s resources include:

energy saving tips on a range of topics including solar PV, solar irrigation, batteries and bioenergy for dairy farms
the Saving energy on dairy farms (PDF 3.58 MB) guide featuring energy-efficiency improvements with a low cost, short payback period that can be implemented in most dairies across Australia
the DairyPod podcast that hosts conversations on how to improve the profitability and sustainability of dairy farms. The podcast features episodes on getting started with saving energy on the farm and considerations when making energy-saving investments.

Fruit

Energy use in Australian orchards accounts for a large proportion of production costs and is a major financial burden for fruit businesses. For these businesses, energy is their second largest cost after labour.

The Australian Government funded energy audits for 30 orchards and packing sheds in 10 Australian growing regions which led to development of energy-efficiency information. The audits showed that, on average, fruit businesses could save $16,300 per year by making cost effective upgrades with a payback period of 6 years or less.

Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) has developed a range of case studies to illustrate how fruit businesses have saved money by becoming more energy efficient, including:

APAL has also developed a collection of informative energy-efficiency material, including factsheets and a presentation, to help you cut energy use and save money in all areas of your business.

Irrigators

Improved irrigation efficiency can increase grower returns at reduced costs.

Business Queensland has developed information on energy efficiency for farmers and irrigators, including how to save money by switching tariffs and adopting more energy efficient practices.

Wineries

Refrigeration and tank storage account for up to 70% of energy consumption in a winery. By reducing energy use in refrigeration and other high-consumption areas, wineries can greatly improve energy efficiency and save money.

Wine Australia developed guidance to help wineries reduce waste and improve resource efficiency. This includes a winery refrigeration efficiency kit that has case studies investigating refrigeration efficiency improvement opportunities.

The South Australian Wine Industry Association has developed case studies on how wineries have improved their energy efficiency, as well the Winery Energy Saver Toolkit. The toolkit contains information to help identify, prioritise and action energy-efficiency improvements for wine manufacturing.

Agriculture Victoria produced a St Ignatius Vineyard and Winery case study exploring an on-farm energy assessment. The assessment covered all energy-consuming equipment including processing, temperature control and lighting systems. This was used to identify recommendations to improve processes, reduce waste, save money and move to clean energy sources.

Programs

Ag Energy Hub Queensland Ag Energy Hub. A centralised hub of free information for farmers and landholders to navigate the energy needs and requirements of their operations. Case studies and other information resources are available.

Case studies

Clean Energy Finance Corporation - Sustainable and energy-efficient farming in applications including refrigeration, pumps and solar.

Energy on-farm success stories Agriculture Victoria - Find out how other farm businesses have used the Victorian Energy Upgrades Program to help recoup some of their upfront energy upgrade costs.

On-farm energy efficiency and cost savings Energy Smart Farming - Case studies highlighting opportunities across industries for on-farm energy efficiency and cost savings.

Podcast: Economics of implementing energy technology Energy Smart Farming - Personal stories of people who have overcome on-farm energy challenges. This episode looks at the successes and gains of an energy audit undertaken through the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan (AEIP).

CottonInfo - Sustainability options for cotton farms covering energy, water and natural resource management.

Ag Energy Hub - Implemented and proposed actions, covering energy management and a range of technologies.

Transforming Australian agriculture with clean energy: A practical guide to lowering on-farm energy use and carbon emissions (PDF 5.26 MB) Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC)

FarmHub National Farmers’ Federation

Navigating a dynamic energy landscape: A briefing for farms National Farmers' Federation and Energy Efficiency Council

Guidance for business and industry NSW Government

Renewables - For Farmers NSW Government

Energy efficiency for farmers and irrigators Queensland Government