The annual energy consumption for the farm during the 2017-2018 period was 168,542kWh at a cost of $45,770. A recent energy audit showed how improving the current systems can lead to energy and cost savings. The audit recommended replace the pumps and install a solar system at each of the pumping sites that will offset approximately 41% of the power of each system.

This case study is focused on the comparison of options to reduce energy consumption from the grid by installing solar panels at the pumps. The audit compared four solar system sizes for each pump: 5kW, 10kW, 20kW and 30kW and the sizes recommended represent the most effective choice for the farm. The pumps are used at different hours each year due to changes in annual rainfall. The interval data was not available and therefore the below analysis is based on estimates and does not correlate times that energy is consumed by the pumps or generated by the proposed solar panels. In each of the cases, the smaller systems had better payback periods because they would export less power as a proportion of overall generation. As the proportion of export increases, the payback period increases since the Feed-in-Tariff revenue per unit is less than the cost of the power offset.

Table 1. Costs and savings from audit recommendations.

As a final assessment, the auditor considered the option of combining all pumps onto one NMI and installing a solar PV system large enough to maintain the farm as a small user.  An 80kW system was considered potentially suitable with a Payback Period of 5.9 years.

The farmer has proceeded with the installation of a 35.2 kW ground-mounted solar system at pump 3. The savings made have been measured in a Measurement and Verification (M&V) process, as outlined in Table 2.

Table 2. Estimated and Actual energy and cost savings.

*Considering tariff 24 as the most optimal.

The lower cost savings measured compared to the adjusted savings from the audit recommendations have been influenced by the lower energy consumed onsite and the higher exports. The next step for the farm is to adjust energy usage to offset all the energy consumption from the grid, which would lead to further cost savings as the revenue from feeding into the grid is lower than the cost of using energy from the grid.

From the solar energy generated, 45% or 22,035 kWh are being used onsite valued at $4,000 and 23,050 kWh are being exported to the grid with a revenue of $1,812. Considering that 52,895 kWh – 71% of the total energy use for pumping – are being imported from the grid at a cost of $9,600, there are significant potential savings from shifting consumption into the solar generation period. The total power balance of the farm, including solar exports, is shown in the following figure.

From the implementation of the recommendation in the audit, the farm has reduced energy consumption by 27% and costs by 13%, including feed-in revenue, with Carbon emission savings of 36.5 t/CO₂-e per year.

Table 3. Pre and post implementation energy and costs improvements.

For additional information see our Bowen Horticulture Farm Case study where the costs of two 30kW Solar PV systems were compared for different sheds with payback periods of between 3.3 and 4.5 years HERE. In this case, the system with higher utilisation (offsetting over 40,000 kWh) had a better payback period than the smaller utilisation (offsetting 18,000kWh).

An energy audit is a good investment 

An energy audit is a great way for a business to cut costs and boost productivity. Find out about what’s involved in an energy audit HERE and subscribe to our bi-monthly energy e-news HERE.

If you have any energy efficiency related questions for the team get in touch at energysavers@qff.org.au.

The Energy Savers Plus Extension Program is delivered by the Queensland Farmers Federation with support and funding from the Queensland Department of Energy and Public Works.