The audit founds a significant water leak, with potential energy savings of 20%, and the opportunity to improve irrigation efficiency with the addition of a variable speed drive saving 30% of energy consumption. The solutions have combined energy savings of 60% with cost savings of around $5,500 and a payback under 2 years. Combined emission reductions have been estimated around 18.9 t CO2-e per year.
The dairy farm, located near Carneys Creek in south-east Queensland, uses electric pumping for irrigation of cattle pastures and drinking water for the herd. Several pumps transfer bore water to holding tanks where it is gravity fed to the pasture as needed throughout the year as well as pumped to a travelling gun irrigator.
The owner has found significant opportunity for energy savings through identifying water leaks with rectification achieving possible savings of over 30%. Planning is underway for site irrigation upgrades to improve productivity, which may supercede the recommendation about the variable speed drive.