HQ Plantations near Gympie manages 343,000Ha of land and is the largest commercial forestry plantation in the state. Over a production area of 212,000Ha, 2.3 million m3 of wood is harvested, sequestering 1,810Mt of CO2 annually.
One of the keys to HQ Plantations production cycle is an onsite 26-hectare nursery, consisting of 7.6Ha of production area, 2.9Ha of shade structures and 4.7Ha of full sun growing area producing over 10 million seedlings annually.
A snapshot of total energy use and two main production systems contributing to energy consumption onsite includes:
| Annual Energy Use | kWh | Cost ($) | Emissions (tCO2-e) |
| Site Total | 172,117 | 46,552 | 160.8 |
| Pumping | 71,913 | 6563.85 | 69 |
| Propagation | 48,061 | 4235.65 | 46.1 |
| Maximum Demand | 101kVA |
The energy audit identified larger energy saving measures with recommendations to:
| Solution | Reduce Time of Use of Steam Generator | Install 30kW Solar PV | Move tank filling to off-peak | Identify Peak Demand Causes | Turning Off Lights and Appliances | TOTAL |
| Energy Savings (kWh) | 19,602 | 44,170 | 0 | 0 | 4,207 | 67,979 |
| Demand Savings (kVA) | 0 | 0 | 6.4 | 11.8 | 0 | 18.2 |
| Cost Savings ($) | 1,789 | 16,145 | 2,813 | 2,575 | 366 | 24,333 |
| Emission Reductions (t CO2-e) | 18.03 | 40.64 | 0 | 0 | 3.87 | 62.54 |
| Capital Cost ($) | 4,700 | 42,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46,700 |
| Payback (years) | 2.6 | 2.6 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Water is supplied to the main tank from two bores, automated to fill when the water level drops below a predetermined level. Water is then pumped to the nursery using four multi-stage variable speed pumps. Given the potential savings from shifting the tank-fill pumping to off-peak times, a real-time energy meter was installed onsite capturing the main pumping circuit that supplies the header tank. The device has an average installation cost of $1,000 and will allow the business to understand their energy consumption, being able to find further demand reductions onsite. Read more about HERE.
From the energy audit recommendations, the grower proceeded with the implementation of the 30kW solar PV system, achieving 53,212kWh of energy savings per year, including energy exported to the grid. Costs savings achieved have been $14,093 per annum, including demand charges. The solution has allowed the farm to reduce the energy consumption per unit of production by 31%.
| Metric | Pre-Audit | Post Audit |
| kWh/unit | 0.017 | 0.012 |
An Energy Savers field day was at HQ Plantations with presentations on water and energy efficiency, and a technology showcase highlighting efficient pumps, lightweight solar PV and new financing opportunities. Click HERE for more information.
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 in by the Queensland Farmers Federation with support and funding from the Queensland Department of Energy and Public Works.
