An energy audit showed how installing solar systems can lead to energy and cost savings.
An energy audit showed how installing solar systems can lead to energy and cost savings.
The farm, near Dundowran, consists of four laying sheds and house approximately 100,000 birds per annum. The site also includes a feed mill, farm office, maintenance workshop and a house & grader shed that incudes process packing areas and cool rooms.
Energy consumption is dominated by the ventilation and feed systems, with an annual energy consumption for the site of approximately 150,000 kWh at a cost of $36,000.
The sites energy consumption consist of:
An energy audit showed how implementing a 30 kW solar PV system can lead to energy and cost savings by investing $54,000.
Table 1. Energy savings from audit recommendation
Recommendation | Energy savings (kWh) | Cost Savings ($) | Emission Savings (tCO2-e) | Payback Period (Years) | Cost to Implement ($) |
30 kW Solar PV system | 44,000 | 11,400 | 36 | 4.7 | 54,000 |
By installing the recommendation in the audit, the business could reduce energy consumption by 29%, and costs by 31%, with carbon emission savings of 36 tCO2–e per year.
Table 2. Pre and post audit energy consumption and costs.
Audit Metric | Pre-Audit | Post-Audit | Reduction (%) |
Energy Consumption (kWh) | 150,000 | 106,000 | 29 |
Cost ($) | 36,000 | 14,600 | 31 |
An energy audit is a good investment
An energy audit is a great first step in moving a business towards a more efficient future by reducing energy use, costs and Carbon emissions onsite.
An energy auditor will review your past energy bills, your equipment and the way your business operates. They’ll show you where you’re using excess energy and explain what you can do about it. Find out about what’s involved in an energy audit HERE.
See our range of agricultural energy efficiency case studies 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 in by the Queensland Farmers Federation with support and funding from the Queensland Department of Energy and Public Works.