Of the energy-saving opportunities evaluated, one initiative was identified with potential energy savings of 30%, a payback period of 3.7 years and carbon savings of 5.3t CO2-e per year. The energy audit report included an initiative to relocate the 11kW irrigation pump to the other redundant pump site to use the larger bore pipework and eliminate a 90-degree bend on the discharge.
The farm, located near Mareeba, is a family business primarily producing mangoes, capsicum and pumpkin. Water for irrigation is supplied from nearby Emerald Creek. Mango trees are irrigated via sprinklers throughout the dry season at approximately 48 hours per week. Other crops are irrigated by a trickle system scheduled at about 6 hours per week from April to June and about 30 to 40 hour per week from July to November. Only one of the two pumps on-site is used and has been the sole energy consumer for the last two seasons.