Rural
Case studies to inform energy saving practice
FARMERS will be provided the skills to save energy, money and time, with a host of online case studies now available through Agriculture Victoria.
The case studies explore seven Victorian farmers and the on-farm energy decisions they made, and the resulting benefits they found by investing in new technology.
The cases look at solar panels and battery storage, improving greenhouse insulation, energy efficiency for croppers with chaser bins and belt shifter improvements, gains for grape growers to improve yield and quality, rapid chiller in a dairy farm lowering costs, and rooftop solar panels and solar water pumps.
Agriculture Victoria farm business economist Julie Harman said the case studies had been made available online as part of the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan, and a podcast with farmer Tony McCarthy was also available for those who preferred to listen rather than read.
“The economic case studies consider benefits such as energy savings and co-benefits such as labour productivity, on farms across a range of agriculture industries,” she said.
“Tony arrived in Australia with just a backpack and has since been focusing on building up his business from scratch, of which energy management has and is an important part.
“An energy audit undertaken through the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan was a big leg up for Tony in identifying energy savings.”
To view the final case studies, visit extensionaus.com.au/energysmartfarming/on-farm-energy-efficiency-and-cost-savings.