The audit of this 46Ha Bundaberg sugar cane farm considered energy consumption, hydraulic losses, and crop management. The audit recommended upgrading the pumps and changing the irrigation design. The site consists of a river pump and booster pump on separate NIMIs and irrigated using high pressure Gun, medium pressure boom and low-pressure furrow.

An 120ha cane farm in the Ayr region is taking a holistic approach taking part in both the Queensland Farmers Federation Reef, and Energy Savers programs. The site aims to reduce fertiliser use, energy consumption and costs while increasing production and minimising its impact on the surrounding Great Barrier Reef.

A cane farm in the Mackay region could increase production, net profit and reduce energy consumption from adoption of solar, and pump and irrigation changes.

The audit recommended optomising the VSD speed to reduce friction losses, balancing efficiency with crop requirements. This no-cost project is saving the farmer $9,532 per annum with a reduction of 19% energy consumption.

This case study shows how a Clare melon farm can reduce energy consumption and costs implementing the recommendations of an Energy Savings Program. The farm has already implemented VSD on 8 pumps, reducing the energy consumption for irrigation by 49%. Further savings can be achieved by upgrading irrigation, refrigeration and hot water systems, with energy savings estimated as 12% of total farm energy consumption.

A range of initiatives were identified including replacing some pumps and motors with new pumps and variable speed drives, with an average payback period of 2.8 years and annual cost savings of around $16,500. An extra $10,000 annual saving is potentially available at the site by reviewing the tariffs of the pump stations. Energy savings have been calculated as 4% for the flood system and 16% for the drip & micro irrigation system. Emission savings have been estimated at an average of 18.4 t CO2-e per year.

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%, with carbon reductions of 53.4 t CO2-e per annum, at the Kilrie Gully pump station.

The audit recommended replacing high pressure travelling guns with a low pressure boom irrigator and installing a variable speed drive to maintain 65psi at the booms. The project is expected to save 20% energy and has a payback period of 3 years with carbon reductions of 11 t CO2-e per annum.

The audit presented 2 options to improve the efficiency of an 18kW pump: upgrading to a high efficiency model, or adding an VSD, both of which would save nearly $4,000 per year and pay back within around 2 years, with carbon emission reductions of 15 t CO2-e per annum.

The irrigation audit identified energy savings of 10% with a payback of 3.4 years by modifying the discharge piping on the 45kW pump to reduce pressure losses. Additional savings were identified by replacing pumps and adding a variable speed controlled, but with longer payback periods. Emission savings have been estimated to be 3.1 t CO2-e.

The irrigation energy audit identified a number of initiative that would save about $110,000 over 10 years. These included replacing oversized pumps, and adding Variable Speed Drives where the changing elevation of the Centre Pivots caused variable head pressure. The audit also identified $600 in annual savings through tariff review. Emission savings have been estimated to be 47 t CO2-e.

The irrigation audit identified a number of opportunities on site including modifying pipe systems to reduce pressure loss, impellor modifications and installation of variable speed drives. Energy savings of 16% with a payback of 1.3 years were identified. The audit also identified up to $11,000 available by reviewing the tariff pricing structure for the pumps. Emission savings have been estimated to be 52 t CO2-e.

The irrigation energy audit assessed the site pumping systems including creek pumping and transfer pumping, recommended adding variable speed drives to the 55kW pumps driving the Centre Pivots, and reducing head pressure. Energy Savings of 19 – 30% were identified with payback periods between 8.4 – 23.9 years and average carbon emission reductions of 7.5 t CO2-e per annum.

The irrigation energy audit recommended replacing three old pump motors and adding Variable Speed Drives to two pumps, with an annual energy saving of 15% and payback of 3.2 years, as well as carbon emission reductions of 32.8 t CO2-e per annum.

The audit recommended two options, including replacing a 15 year-old 33kW pump with a smaller 22kW pump, or replace the pump and add a variable speed drive. Energy savings of 4-11% and average emission savings of 3.9 t CO2-e per annum have been estimated.

The audit recommended a number of measures, including a variable speed drive to regulate pressure rather than the current throttling arrangement. The measure will save around 45% energy at the pump, with an annual cost saving of over $10,500 and a payback period of around 9 months, as well as emission savings of 44 t CO2-e per annum.

The audit assessed 10 initiatives to upgrade pumps and add variable speed drives, and recommended that two be implemented with payback periods of 3.5 years and savings of $6,000 per year. The audit also recommended tariff checks to achieve further savings. Emission savings have been estimated to be 20.6 t CO2-e in average per year.

A range of initiatives were identified including replacing some pumps and motors with new pumps and variable speed drives, with a payback period of 2.8 years and annual cost savings of around $16,500. An extra $10,000 annual saving is potentially available at the site by reviewing the tariffs of the pump stations. Emission savings have been estimated to be 27.1 t CO2-e per year.

The audit made many recommendations for pipe upgrades, pump replacement and the addition of variable speed drives. Six recommendations had a total annual energy saving of nearly $20,000 with a payback period under a year. Nearly $6,000 of extra annual savings may be available through tariff reviews. Emission savings have been estimated to be 114 t CO2-e per year.

The farmer implemented the recommendations including 2 variable speed drives and is likely to save over $7,000 per year with a payback of around 2 years and emission savings of 31.5 t CO2-e per year. There are more potential savings available by replacing other pumps with high efficiency models at the end of their life.