A Mareeba banana farm is on track to save 45% off their power bill for one of their pump stations with a new variable speed drive and a tariff change recommended in the Energy Savers audit. They are also getting more even watering and expect to cut maintenance costs!

An energy audit recommended replacing a 75kW pump with a 45kW pump and Variable Speed Control. Also, eliminating some right angle bends from the pipes at an adjacent 4kW pump will allow it to deliver 1kL of extra water per hour.

Lower Burdekin Water Board cut their power consumption by 58,000kWh and demand by 105kVA resulting in annual cost savings of $20,000 or 25% at the Kilrie Gully pump station.

The irrigation energy audit recommended adding variable speed drives to two dam pumps as they have varying duties in supplying centre pivot irrigators. The audit also recommended upgrading 100mm steel main pipe for transfer pumping to 125mm plastic. These initiatives would result in energy savings of over $41,000 per year and a payback period of around 1.5 years.

The audit of this vineyard and winemaker evaluated a number of actions with varying payback periods, including insulation, replacement of compressors, lighting controls and disconnecting unused pumps. Two initiatives had a payback period of around 3 years including insulation and disconnecting unused pumps. The audit also found a tariff review might save the business over $2,500 per year.