Page 14 - National Poultry Newspaper

CEFC and NFF back ready-made clean energy solutions for Australian farmers
IN an Australian first, the Clean Energy Fi- nance Corporation and National Farmers’ Fed- eration have collaborated to back ready-made clean energy solutions for Aus- tralian farmers, with the twin goals of increasing on-farm efficiency and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
In a practical new guide for Australia’s 85,000 farming enterprises, the CEFC and NFF have identified 51 opportuni- ties where farmers can reduce their energy bills by improving energy ef- ficiency and switching to renewables.
The investment com- mitments start at under $10,000, making them cost effective at a time of farm stress and drought.
CEFC CEO Ian Lear- month said, “We are de- lighted to work with the National Farmers’ Federa-
tion in developing this im- portant guide for Austral- ia’s farmers, who have a well-deserved reputation for innovation and land care.”
“The solutions can help farming businesses bet- ter manage their energy costs, increase their ef- ficiency and lower their carbon emissions.
“Already more than 1100 agriculture projects are drawing on $260 million in CEFC finance to invest in solar PV, lower-emis- sions farm equipment, energy-efficient machin- ery upgrades and biomass energy from waste.
“This guide is anoth- er exciting way we are bringing the substantial benefits of one of our newest industries, clean energy, to one of our most established, agri- culture.”
NFF CEO Tony Mahar said, “Together with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, we aim to present forward-looking solutions to help Austral- ian farmers manage rising energy costs.
“This guide collates in- formation on proven and emerging technologies.
“It establishes how farmers can reduce their energy consumption and lower emissions, using re- alistic cost estimates.
“Clean energy leads to greater efficiencies and productivity, and an over- all lower emissions pro- file for the agribusiness sector.
“We believe this guide will help Australian farm- ers lower their energy bills, reduce their emis- sions footprint and ulti- mately be more produc- tive and competitive.”
The potential energy- efficiency technologies range from variable-speed drives and smart controls to best-in-class tractors
and refrigeration equip- ment.
Renewable energy solu- tions include increasingly cost-effective solar PV as well as on-farm micro- grids, which are particu- larly relevant in remote areas or where network connections are expen- sive.
The guide – Transform- ing Australian Agricul- ture with Clean Energy – draws on the work of the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Agricultural Engineering.
While energy consump- tion patterns vary across farming enterprises and production systems, the guide finds there are sig- nificant opportunities for farm operations to imme- diately reduce energy con- sumption as well as lower energy-related emissions.
The challenge for the sector is to understand the available options, the scale of the potential in- vestment and the potential emissions savings.
The guide sets out seven steps for farmers to em- brace clean energy.
Presented in an easy-to- read dashboard format, the 51 technology solu- tions include:
• Simple improvements to irrigation, heating, cooling and vehicle fuel efficiency – typically re- quiring an investment of $5000 or less;
• New strategies to gen- erate and store energy such as small-scale wind, solar PV and hydroelec- tric systems – typically requiring an investment of up to $25,000; and
• Emerging technologies such as microgrids, bio- mass generation, preci- sion application and digi- tal sensors, robots and drones, which have the potential to revolutionise farming practice.
Read the full report at cefc.com.au
Australian agriculture’s clean energy transfor- mation: where farmers can act
1. Conduct an energy au- dit: This is an important first step to understand current energy use and prioritise energy-related investmentdecisions.
2. Generate your own energy: The farm sector is ideally suited to pro- ducing renewable energy and alternative fuels. This includes solar PV, small- scale wind and bioenergy, as well as on-site storage.
3. Upgrade vehicles and machinery: Tractors, an- cillary equipment and ve- hicles can be easily made more energy efficient, of- ten with relatively little capital expense. This is particularly the case for cropping systems, where upgrades can cut fuel con- sumption and increase op- erational efficiency.
4. Improve irrigation and pumping: Energy-ef- ficient irrigation and wa- ter management practices have the potential to im- prove water use through technologies such as variable-speed drives and solar-powered pumping.
5. Consider buildings, heating and cooling: On- farm building assets, processing technologies and heating and cooling equipment can be energy- intensive, driving up farm costs.
6. Benefit from precision agriculture: New technol- ogies that calculate the optimal quantity, timing and location of farming inputs such as water and fertiliser can greatly re- duce energy use.
7. Consider emerging technologies: Digital solu- tions such as sensors, ro- bots and autonomous ve- hicles are already helping farmers generate energy savings.
Page 14 – National Poultry Newspaper, October 2019
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