A dairy farm located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland could benefit from a comprehensive energy audit that explored both the milking operation and irrigated paddocks. This case study focuses on the irrigation system benefits of installing a new pump with a Variable Speed Drive (VSD), new suction line, shortening the mainline and replacing the sprinklers and risers.

A recent energy savers audit showed how a dairy farm in the Burdekin region could improve heating and cooling efficiency onsite after implementing the recommendations of a recent energy audit.

A South East Queensland Dairy that produces milk and some feed has the potential to reduce energy and costs onsite and increase productivity from efficiencies identified in the milking shed.

Installing solar and chilled water systems using existing infrastructure while monitoring and maintaining could reduce this dairy farm's energy consumption below 100,000kWh per annum.

The audit founds a significant water leak and the potential to improve irrigation efficiency with the addition of a variable speed drive. Energy savings of around $5,500 and a combined payback under 2 years.

The audit recommended a number of initiatives to reduce distribution head losses to optimise the dam pump operations, including some pipe replacement and the potential to replace the 45kW dam pumps and add variable speed drives. The recommendations would save 42% of the energy on those systems, with an annual saving of over $40,000 and a payback of just over 2 years.