Energy Savers
Atherton Tablelands

Malanda Dairy Farm

Implemented
2
Energy Savings
1.3
Savings
7,939
Industry
Dairy
Irrigation
Centre Pivot
Pumps
Centrifugal
Technology
Change Irrigation type
Capital Cost
$93,976

Farm Profile

A 104ha Atherton Tablelands Dairy farm practising biodynamics has saved money and reduced energy consumption after implementing irrigation upgrades.

The case study shows that energy savings can be achieved by moving to a low-pressure centre pivot further increasing the irrigation area by 11.2ha, with improvements in production and time efficiency. 

The site utilises 28ha of solid set irrigation fed by an underground bore pump to improve feed for the 140 head of milking cows.

The annual energy consumption for the site during the 2018-2019 period was 118,323 kWh at a cost of $23,356, split between pumping for irrigation (64%) and milking operations (36%). The energy consumption on the farm consists mainly of:

  • Pumping for irrigation
  • Milk cooling 
  • Stock and dairy water
  • Water heating 
  • Milk harvesting and stalling 

A recent energy audit showed how improving the current systems across the farm can lead to energy and cost savings. The audit recommendations can be seen in Table 1. 

Table 1. Costs and savings from audit recommendations. 

Recommendation  Annual Energy Savings (kWh)  Annual Costs Savings ($)  Emission Savings 

(tCO2-e) 

Capital Cost ($)  Payback Period (Years) 
Reduce cooling costs by improving milk cooling efficiency  1,087  287  0.8  0  Immediate 
Installation of a VSD on bore pump  2,190  577  1.7  2,300  4 
Install 20kW Solar PV  N/A  3,857  N/A  30,000  7.8 
Remove Existing Pump Repair Bore Screen and Casing and Reinstate  24,030  8.,969  19.4 18,000  2 
Replace Existing Pump Repair Bore Screen and Casing and  37,000  4.1 
Install Solid Set with CU of 85%  11,800  6,950  9.5  30,000  4.3 
Total  39,107  20,640  31.4  80,300-99,300  3.6-4.0 

N.B. Replace existing pump includes production benefit energy savings which equate to $3,969. Install solid set has production benefit, energy savings which equate to $1,950 

At the time of the audit, the farm was on an obsolete tariff and a review of the pumping system showed that costs would be increased by $4,977 by switching to Tarif 22A. 

Given the audit information and after talks with a local irrigation business, the farmer decided to improve the irrigation system. Instead of the solid set recommended, the farmer implemented a new centre pivot irrigator with a 150mm PVC mainline. On closer inspection, the proposed solid set irrigation was estimated to have a duty point for the bore pump of 27LPS at 117m total head, whereas the centre pivot will be performing at 29LPS at 107 total head showing a reduction in pressure and an improvement in flow.

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. 

Metric  Audit Estimation Centre Pivot M&V Calculation Centre Pivot Variation (%) 
Energy Savings (kWh)  3,086 1,647  -47
Cost Savings ($)  8,270 7,939  -4

 

The lower energy savings obtained from the M&V calculations compared to those estimated in the audit have been influenced by different assumptions on the use of water by the irrigation system. The cost savings have been maintained due to the increase in dry matter production.

The main savings from implementation have been achieved from an increase in production of 2t D.M./ha/year, due to improvements in the area irrigated and irrigation efficiency, adding $5000 per annum as reported in the energy audit. Labour efficiency has also improved saving roughly $2,560 per year, this is achieved by remotely controlling the pivot and minimal time required to set up, turn on or off.  

From the implementation of recommendations in the audit, the farm has reduced total energy consumption by 2% and total costs by 34%, with Carbon emission savings of 1.3 t/CO2-e per year.

Table 3. Pre and Post Implementation energy consumption, costs and productivity improvements.

Metric  Pre-implementation  Post-implementation  Reduction (%) 
Energy Consumption (kWh)  118,323 116,676 2
Cost ($)  23,356 4,317 34
Energy Productivity (kWh/cow)  845.2 833.4 2

 

The site could see further production benefits by increasing the carrying capacity due to the increase in dry matter or maximising pasture utilisation, increasing milk production and reducing the kWh/L of milk and milk solids produced. 

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.

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 by the Queensland Farmers Federation with support and funding from the Queensland Department of Energy and Public Works.

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