Farmer participants in the QFF Energy Savers program have reported real savings after going ahead with the recommendations of their energy audits. These savings have been measured and verified (M&V) by the Energy Savers team and we’ve highlighted some examples below.
A north Queensland dairy saved 18 per cent or $2,700 off their annual power bill by upgrading a 600m irrigation line from 150mm aluminium to 200mm PVC.
A Southern Downs fruit and vegetable farm saved more than expected by replacing two small single-phase pumps with a single 3.2kW three phase pump. The $2,600 saving and improved payback occurred as the pumps were not used much in the lead up to their energy audit due to drought, so the estimated energy savings in their audit were conservative.
A Lockyer Valley fruit farm implemented all of their energy audit recommendations and found an increase in productivity of 10-20 per cent because of the increased irrigation flow, with irrigation efficiency improving from 4.36kWh/ML/m to 3kWh/ML/m. The farm has reduced annual costs by around $9,500 and will increase revenue due to the productivity improvement.
A Toowoomba nursery has replaced an old air conditioning unit and installed stage one of a solar system. The M&V process identified that the solar inverter had not been correctly set up. The farm has since achieved savings of nearly 15,000 kWh/annum with cost savings of over $4,100 per year. Further savings are expected now the solar system is correctly set up and the second stage of the solar PV system still to be installed.
Favco Golden Mile farm in the Wide Bay Burnett region replaced a booster pump as recommended by their audit and added a variable speed drive, reducing their pumping energy consumption by 35 per cent with an annual cost saving of over $15,000.
A Carbrook nursery added a 39kW Solar PV System with a 30kW inverter with 68 per cent or 35,600 kWh being used on site at a saving of nearly $10,000 per year. The nursery could save more by implementing other efficiency recommendations such as heating and refrigeration upgrades and shifting more of its power consumption to solar generation periods.
See our range of agricultural energy efficiency case studies including implemented projects HERE and Subscribe to our bi-monthly energy e-news HERE
If you have any energy efficiency related questions for the team get in touch at energysavers@qff.org.au.