A Wide Bay Burnett nursery growing ornamental plants has saved money and reduced energy consumption after implementing the recommendations from a recent Energy Savers Audit. The recommendations installed included a Solar PV system and a change of tariff.

A South East Queensland nursery growing fruit trees and native plants has saved money and reduced energy consumption after implementing the recommendations from a recent Energy Savers Audit. The recommendations installed included pumps, heating, and air conditioner upgrades as well as a solar PV system.

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 24 Queensland Nurseries taking part in the Energy Savers Program.

A large Sunshine Coast nursery will reduce its energy consumption even while increasing production with load shifting, upgrading lighting and air conditioners and the addition of a Solar PV system.

Installing a solar PV system has reduced HQ Plantations energy costs, CO2 emissions and demand charges.

A South-East Queensland nursery has implemented a 19.89kW Solar System to offset grid power following their QFF Energy Savers audit.

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.

The farm has implemented a lighting upgrade, Power Factor Correction (PFC) and a 30.4kW Solar PV system to achieve annual energy savings over $14,700 and greenhouse gas emission reductions of 40.1 t CO2-e. The lights and PFC offer a payback period of under 3 years, with the PV payback around 5½ years. The Pump VSD and pressure transducer once implemented will allow the pump to operate at its Best Efficiency Point.

An energy audit for on-site electricity usage recommended several opportunities to reduce consumption and costs, from which the farmer has installed variable speed controls on pumps, replaced pumps with more energy efficient drive units, as well as upgraded the lighting and hot water systems, achieving energy savings of 28% and emission reductions of 28.4 t CO2-e per year. 

The audit identified several energy efficiency opportunities including regular checks for leaks in the irrigation and compressed air systems and a lighting upgrade. The audit recommended a 10kW Solar PV system to complement energy efficiency practices already in place, to further cut power required from the grid by 34% to save over $4,000 per year with a payback of less than 5 years and carbon reductions of 14.5 t CO2-e per annum.

The irrigation energy audit assessed a number of irrigation systems, and recommended the addition of variable speed drives to an existing pumping station consisting of 2 x 7kW and 1 x 5.5kW fixed pumps. The upgrade would result in energy savings of 1% on total energy consumption, with a payback of 11 years and with carbon emission reductions of 1.4 t CO2-e per annum.

A number of initiatives were recommended including replacing 400W mercury vapour high bay lights with 150W equivalents, adding insulation to hot water piping and the addition of a 30kW solar PV system. In total the measures will save nearly $11,000 per year with a payback period of 5.5 years and carbon reductions of 37.5 t CO2-e per annum