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Case Studies

Case Studies

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation have completed a number of case studies with farms in Queensland to better understand energy saving and cost saving opportunities. Explore these case studies by using the filters below.

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Industry

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Technology

Bigstock Cotton crop landscape with cop 95423219

Maranoa-Balonne

Western Queensland Cotton

The audit tested a large pump system that was found to be operating efficiently and compared the annual operating costs for diesel and electricity.

Energy Savings NA Cost Savings NA

Aquaculture

Wet Tropics

Daintree Salt Water Barramundi

Daintree Salt Water Barramundi is a North Queensland barramundi producer with 14 production ponds and a tourism enterprise. The farm is an energy intensive enterprise, using over 500,000 kWh per year. The farm operates 24/7.

Energy Savings 65% Cost Savings $102,835

Bigstock Sugarcane Field In Cloudy Sky 80957840

Dry Tropics

North Queensland Cane Farm

The energy audit at a North Queensland cane farm demonstrated the value in an energy audit to check the performance of irrigation systems.

Energy Savings 49.7% Cost Savings $56,000

Dairy

Southern Downs

Southern Downs Dairy

The Southern Downs dairy milks around 320 dairy cows in two daily milkings using an automated rotary milking system.
The site used 500,000kWh of electricity in the year prior to the audit at a cost of $170,000. The site uses 93 kWh/kL of milk which was above national average industry benchmark of 48kWh/kL.

Energy Savings 51% Cost Savings $107,000

Horticulture

Wide Bay Burnett

Gayndah Citrus Plantation

A Type 3 Energy Audit was conducted at a pump station on a 100 hectare Gayndah citrus farm. The farm produces a range of citrus varieties with around 38,000 trees across 20 blocks. The plantation requires irrigation all year round with a peak period during the summer.
The pumps operated for 3,300 hours in the year before the audit, consuming over 350,000 kWh with a higher proportion consumed during the summer.

Energy Savings 60% Cost Savings 55,562

Bigstock Chicken Broilers Poultry Farm 293431294

South-East

Lockyer Valley Chicken Farm

The Chicken Rearing Farm consumed 218,990 kWh in the year before the audit at a cost of $31,974. In addition to that, the facility also consumed 71,602 litres of LPG at a cost of $61,832. The combined greenhouse emissions from the facility were estimated to be 302.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The site operates 24/7 during the 20 week rearing cycles.

Energy Savings 90% Cost Savings $21,671

Horticulture

Wide Bay Burnett

North Burnett Horticulture Farm

This Avocado farm in the North Burnett consumed 179,808 kWh of power at its main irrigation shed at a cost of $45,349. The farm’s electricity Tariff is Ergon’s Small Business Retail 22C.

Energy Savings 38% Cost Savings $23,291

Piggery

Darling Downs

Darling Downs Piggery

The evaluation of a Darling Downs Piggery involved a review and analysis of the existing business operations and its current energy consumption.

The audit found extensive energy efficiency opportunities available through low-cost measures, as well as some more significant upgrades.

The site houses over 9,000 pigs over the full life cycle and operates all year long.

Energy Savings 48% Cost Savings $57,460

Horticulture

Wide Bay Burnett

Benyenda Citrus, Gayndah

Benyenda Citrus have been in operation since 1921 producing Grapefruits, Mandarins, Lemons, Limes, and Oranges. There is always some harvesting taking place throughout the year. The quietest months are September - November, with the busiest months being April - August. The annual energy consumption can vary noticeably dependent upon growing conditions and the amount of produce harvested.

Energy Savings 35% Cost Savings $35,515

Bigstock Cotton crop landscape with cop 95423219

Southern Downs

Cecil Plains Cotton Farm

The farm produces cotton during the summer months and mixed grains during the winter months. Irrigation water is sourced from groundwater using a submersible pump which discharges interchangeably into two channels and a dam. The pump was installed in 2009 and has been unfrequently inspected and serviced.

Energy Savings 42% Cost Savings $11,200

Seedlings nursery QFF

South-East

Elimbah Nursery

Greenstock Nurseries is a family business committed to offering a vast range of plants including re-vegetation species, Standard Trees, Tropical, ‘Oz breed’ & Green wall species. The company is dedicated to continuous improvement in their two Queensland sites.

Energy Savings 11% Cost Savings $2,985

Bigstock Cows Graze On A Green Field In 286662196

Atherton Tablelands

Atherton Tablelands Dairy Farm

The first QBEST energy audit report has been produced, with potential annual energy savings of over 24,000kWh and $8,700 identified. If the recommendations are implemented, the farm will reduce its Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by over 20 tonnes (t-CO2-e) per year.

Energy Savings 34% Cost Savings 12,763

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