This case study shows how a Clare melon farm can reduce energy consumption and costs implementing the recommendations of an Energy Savings Program. The farm has already implemented VSD on 8 pumps, reducing the total energy consumption on farm by 28%, which corresponds to 49% of reduction in energy use for irrigation. Further savings can be achieved by upgrading irrigation, refrigeration and hot water systems, with energy savings of 12% over the already reduced farm energy consumption.

The Energy Audit recommended 3 main groups of projects: refrigeration, irrigation and pump laser alignments. Refrigeration system improvements are reducing annual costs by nearly $10,000 with a payback of just over three years. The first of a number of pumps to be laser aligned is saving $5,500 annually and similar improvements are being found with pump refurbishments and variable speed controls. Added benefits include emission reductions of 75.9 t CO₂-e.

The farm near Clare grows approximately 900 hectares of rockmelons and honeydew melons that are harvested from April through to December. The typical production mix on site is 65% rockmelons and 7% honeydew and 28% watermelons being integrated with cane production. The site includes a processing facility for the melons, which includes fruit sorting, packaging and cold storage.