Energy audits were completed for six Southern Queensland meat processors that process mainly beef cattle as well as pigs, sheep, goats and deer. The main energy consumption at each site is for refrigeration with multiple cool rooms and refrigerators.

This case study summarises the outcomes from audits conducted on 6 Queensland Beef Cattle farms taking part in the in the Energy Savers Program.

This case study summarises the outcomes from audits conducted on all 180 Queensland farms in the Energy Savers Plus Program (ESPPE).

This case study summarises the outcomes from audits conducted on 10 Queensland turf, sheep and pasture farms taking part in the Energy Savers Program.

This case study summarises the outcomes from an audit conducted on a large feedlot with an energy consumption of 3,000,000 kWh at an annual cost of $350,000, resulting in emissions of 2,850 tCO2-e per year. Energy and emission savings have been estimated to be 21% and cost savings at around 26%.

A recent energy audit showed how improving the current systems can lead to energy and cost savings. The recommendations explored in the audit included the replacement of a bore pump, installation of 5.7 kW Solar PV onto the house, and the replacement of a diesel pump with an off-grid solar PV pump. The farmer has installed the 5.7 kW solar PV system.

A farm producing feed for livestock has the potential to reduce energy consumption and costs by installing a combination of renewable and diesel energy sources onsite.

A Stanthorpe farm producing an average of 300 tonnes of stonefruit per year from 40ha could save 77% of its energy and diesel bills after implementing energy audit recommendations to upgrade their lights to LED as well as to replace the diesel pump with a solar system.

A Central Queensland farm has the potential to save time and money from an increase in battery storage, installation of a solar pumping system and several upgrades in the HVAC systems.

A beef and cattle farm located in the Darling Downs region has saved money and reduced energy consumption after implementing a recommendation from a recent Energy Savers Audit. The recommendation installed included a Solar PV system.

This case study compares the costs and benefits of a powering a small pump with a grid connected solar system, or taking the pump off-grid with solar and a battery.

The audits of several meat processors identified a payback of between 3.2 and 4.9 years of adding CO2 heat pumps to replace gas hot water systems. In one case a mixing valve was recommended to one system that was providing higher temperature to return a payback of 1.4 years. Additional benefits include greenhouse gas emission reductions of 283.5 t CO2-e.

The Audits of several meat processors identified the potential benefits of adding variable speed controls to evaporator fans with temperature control logic allowing the fans to operate at a lower speed with significant electricity savings. The audits have identified some quick wins to reduce costs of refrigeration systems at low cost.

The audit recommended a number of pump upgrades with energy efficient models with variable speed drives with a payback of 3 years and annual energy savings of nearly $15,000. Emission savings have been estimated to be 45.5 t CO2-e per year.