This case study highlights the outcomes of energy audits on 52 Sugar Cane farms taking part in the Energy Savers program.
Energy Savers
Summary
The total energy consumption from the measured areas on the 52 farms was 5,131,314 kWh at an annual cost of $1,384,169 resulting in emissions of 4,156 tonnes of CO2-e.
Opportunities: the main opportunities identified on Cane farms include:
- Pumping and Irrigation- Savings from Variable Speed Drive installation, pump replacements and maintenance and changes to irrigation design and automation.
- Lighting and General- Replacement and retrofitting of lights with LEDs, infrastructure upgrades to facilitate efficiency gains and general management changes.
- Solar Systems- Ranging in size from 5-100kW systems.
Table 1. Technology Recommendations and Savings in the Sugar Cane Industry.
| Recommendation | Total | Energy Savings (kWh) | Cost Savings ($) | Capital Cost ($) | Average Payback (Years) | Emission Reduction (tCO2-e) |
| Pumping and Irrigation Upgrades | 126 | 1,694,152 | 797,126 | 3,304,497 | 5.2 | 1,372 |
| Lighting and General | 33 | 267,287 | 134,945 | 420,123 | 4.2 | 217 |
| Solar Systems | 27 | 605,131 | 158,546 | 583,142 | 3.8 | 490 |
| Total Cane | 186 | 2,566,570 | 1,090,617 | 4,307,762 | 4.4 | 2,079 |
|
Total Recommendations (All Sectors) |
665 | 7,459,015 | 2,817,342 | 12,784,670 | 6.85 | 6,042 |
Table 1 highlights the potential energy savings of 2,566,570kWh identified in the audits.
Including production benefits, a saving of $1,090,617 and an estimated 2,079 tonnes of CO2-e could be realised per annum. At a capital cost of $4,307,762, the average payback was 4.4 years.
Additional value adding from the energy audits showed how an increase in water delivery, and in some cases energy consumption, shows a potential increase in production and profit with a reduction in energy consumed per unit of output.
Table 2. Pre and Post Audit Metrics.
| Metric | Pre-Audits | Post-Audits | Reduction (%) |
| Energy Consumption (kWh) | 5,131,314 | 2,564,744 | 50 |
| Energy Costs ($) | 1,384,169 | 293,552 | 78 |
| Emissions (tCO2-e) | 4,156 | 2,077 | 50 |
As the installation of the recommendations is made within the industry, measurement and verification will be undertaken, and case studies will be updated to include the actual energy savings.
Energy Efficiency for your Industry and Business
An energy audit is a great way for a business to cut costs, reduce emissions and boost productivity.
The audits show that there are significant opportunities in the cane industry to improve energy efficiency by investigating the pumping and irrigation systems. Mareeba Cane farm has saved $9,500 per year by improving its irrigation system at no capital cost, to see more details click HERE.
To keep up to date with the changes taking place in the energy space sign up for the e-news HERE
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.
