Audit reveals power bill savings for Far North banana farm

A Mareeba banana farm expects to slash its power bill by about $40,000 a year by implementing the findings of an Energy Savers Plus Program audit.

The Energy Savers Plus Program is a joint initiative of the Palaszczuk Government and industry that helps individual farmers tap into savings through on-farm energy audits, potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars.

Howe Farming is now on track to reduce the power bill for one of its pump stations by 45% by installing a new variable speed drive and adopting a tariff change recommended in an Energy Savers audit.

Energy Minister Mark Bailey said the plantation expected to cut maintenance costs through the change.

“The $35,000 cost of implementing these recommendations will be recouped in less than a year,” he said.

“The savings identified for the banana farm are just one example from 117 audits covering all of the main agricultural sectors in all regions of the state, that collectively have revealed the potential to reduce power bills by over $3 million per year.

“To date, one in five of the audited farm enterprises has implemented some or all of the recommendations to reduce their power bills, and they are reporting savings in line with those forecast in the audits.”

Mr Bailey said the Energy Savers plus program covered virtually every major agriculture sector that used energy intensively in Queensland and the findings were now being shared with primary producers across the state at field days and on-line.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to helping businesses large and small reduce their electricity costs and this is just one of the programs available to help them achieve this,” he said.

“Some other significant savings typically require an up-front investment to more energy efficient equipment or a solar PV system, but in many cases the rate of return makes the payback period relatively short.”

The case studies show how applying best practice energy management strategies can increase productivity, reduce energy bills and contribute to good environmental outcomes.

QFF President Stuart Armitage said the biggest uptake has been by irrigators improving pumping systems.

“Crop requirements, climatic conditions, water licencing and irrigation channel conditions mean they don’t have the luxury of deciding when they pump water,” he said.

“A recent survey of program participants found that over 90% of respondents felt that Energy Savers has raised awareness of on-farm energy management.”

The Mareeba banana farm’s success is highlighted in a video available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6psnNoTdwA&feature=youtu.be, while all of the case studies are at http://www.qff.org.au/newsroom/case-studies/.

The Energy Savers Program is a partnership between the Department of Energy and Water Supply, Ergon Energy and the Queensland Farmers’ Federation.

ENDS

Media contact, Dominic Geiger, 0447355565