The Energy Savers team attended a number of the regional Land Restoration Fund workshops in March and engaged with farmers about the opportunities carbon farming presents and visited several audit farms.
The team enjoyed a visit to a tea tree plantation growing lemon scented gums, rose grass and tea tree, distils oil from harvested leaf material. As the farm is dependent on pumping water for successful vegetative growth, the energy audit recommended replacing a 75kW irrigation pump with a variable speed 45kW pump. The farm is now determined to install a 55kW variable speed pump to enable greater irrigation flexibility. The new pump shows a potential reduction of 7,858kWh and 7.22 TCO2-e per annum. Having completed the energy audit and in the initial stages of implementing some of the recommendations, the farm is well positioned to reduce energy use, carbon emissions and associated costs onsite. To view the case study on the results from the pump change see HERE.
The team visited a farm keen to become a carbon neutral producer. The farm uses tissue culture to produce paw paws which are used as canopy cover protecting the shade-loving coffee trees. With the use of tissue culture, the farm has reduced the land space required and water consumption while producing increased numbers of disease free plants. Energy efficiency is at the forefront of the business’ mind. Having completed an energy audit, it is now their intention to install additional solar PV to cover the pumping requirements. The audit recommended a 20kW solar system saving an additional 25,000kWh and $6,540 per annum. Already a part of the fair farm initiative, adoption of the recommendations in the audit will take the business one step closer to a sustainable enterprise.