Energy Savers September 2018 E-News

Welcome to the September 2018 edition of QFF's Energy Savers e-news. In this issue, your last chance to apply for free energy audits and grants for large energy users, energy and water productivity in cane and cotton; the viability of solar and batteries at a dairy, and a video case study showing irrigation and cold room energy efficiency at a Clare melon farm.

Energy audits and grants for large Ergon customers

The government is still seeking registrations of interest for the Large Customer Adjustment Program for Queensland businesses that use more than 100MWh/year of electricity. Successful applicants will receive an energy audit funded by the Queensland Government as well as up to $250,000 as a co-contribution to assist with implementation. 

Two Western Downs cotton farms and a Mareeba cane farm have shown that irrigation energy efficiency has more benefits than just the power bill savings. Following detailed pump energy audits as part of the Energy Savers Plus Program, all three farms have implemented projects that are saving on power bills.

Viability of solar PV and battery energy storage in dairy 

A dairy farm in South East Queensland consumes between 300kWh and 410kWh per day, with higher consumption during the summer months reflecting a higher cooling load. A recent study found that while solar PV and battery systems are technically capable of reducing energy bills and vulnerability to grid reliability issues, only solar PV was an economically viable option.

Video case study - Clare melon farm