This case study summarises the outcomes from audits conducted on 24 Queensland Nurseries taking part in the Energy Savers Program.
Energy Savers
Summary
The total energy consumption from the measured areas on the 24 nurseries was 3,541,751kWh at an annual cost of $449,783, resulting in emissions of 2,869 tonnes of CO2-e.
Opportunities: the main opportunities identified in the Nurseries include
- Pumping and Irrigation- Savings from Variable Speed Drive installation, pump replacements and maintenance. Changes to irrigation design and automation.
- Heating Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC)– Maintenance and upgrades of condenser motor, VSD, ventilation fan and heating.
- Lighting and General- Replacement and retrofitting of lights with LEDs, infrastructure upgrades to facilitate efficiency gains and general management changes.
- Solar and Batteries– Grid-connected and standalone.
- Solar Systems- Ranging in size from 5-100kW systems.
Table 1. Technology Recommendations and Savings in the Nursery Industry.
| Recommendation | Total | Energy Savings (kWh) | Cost Savings ($) | Capital Cost ($) | Average Payback (Years) |
Emission Reduction (tCO2-e) |
|
Pumping and Irrigation Upgrades |
10 | 29,653 | 16,789 | 62,318 | 13.5 |
24 |
|
HVAC |
18 | 102,480 | 32,198 | 169,846 | 5.1 |
83 |
|
Lighting and General |
30 | 73,251 | 22,538 | 94,773 | 5.2 |
59 |
|
Solar and Batteries |
1 | 7,053 | 2,911 | 24,168 | 8.3 |
6 |
|
Solar Systems |
20 | 483,696 | 125,084 | 527,384 | 4.7 |
392 |
|
Total |
79 |
696,133 | 199,520 | 878,489 | 7.3 |
564 |
|
Total Recommendations |
665 | 7,459,015 | 2,817,342 | 12,784,670 | 6.85 |
6,042 |
Table 1 highlights the potential energy savings of 696,133kWh identified in the audits.
Including production benefits, a saving of $199,520 and an estimated 564 tonnes of CO2-e could be avoided per annum. At a capital cost of $878,489, the average payback was 7.3 years.
Additional value adding from the energy audits showed how an increase in water delivery, could increase production and profit with a reduction in energy consumed per unit of output.
Table 2. Pre and Post Audit Metrics.
| Metric | Pre-Audits | Post- Audits |
Reduction (%) |
|
Energy Consumption (kWh) |
3,541,751 | 2,845,618 |
20% |
|
Energy Costs ($) |
449,783 | 250,263 |
44% |
|
Emissions (tCO2-e) |
2,869 | 2,305 |
20% |
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 nursery industry to improve energy efficiency by investigating the implementation of solar systems. A Sunshine Coast nursery has offset all the energy consumed by implementing a solar system, which also allows export power to the grid, 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.
