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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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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

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

I Stock 83852839 XXLARGE Outback Australia Landscape

Atherton Tablelands Border Rivers, Cape York Peninsula, Central West, Darling Downs, Dry Tropics, Fitzroy, Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday, Maranoa-Balonne, North West, South-East, South-West, Southern Downs, Torres Strait, Wet Tropics, Wide Bay Burnett, Queensland,

All Energy Savers Plus Farms

This case study summarises the outcomes from audits conducted on all 180 Queensland farms in the Energy Savers Plus Program (ESPPE).

Energy Savings 40% Cost Savings $2,817,342

Queensland

Queensland Cotton Farms

This case study summarises the outcomes from audits conducted on 8 Queensland Cotton farms taking part of the Energy Savers Program.

Energy Savings 40% Cost Savings $106,589

Darling Downs

Cotton and Sorghum Farm

A 700ha cotton farm could benefit from a recent Energy Savers audit. The audit recommended the installation of two new 22kW pumps and four separate 20kW solar PV systems to improve energy efficiency on site.

Energy Savings 10% Cost Savings $7,182

Dreamstime xl 11691167 min

Fitzroy

Emerald Cotton Farm

An Emerald irrigated cotton farm could benefit from a recent Energy Savers Audit. This case study details the need to inspect, maintain and repair pumps before potential replacement in order to achieve lower payback periods.

Energy Savings 8% Cost Savings $808

Dreamstime xl 11691167 min

Darling Downs

Dalby Cotton Farm

A 220ha irrigated cotton farm could save money and time by implementing recommendations from their Energy Savers Audit. The site produces some Corn, Barley, Wheat and Chickpeas. Three pumps lift water from the creek to three separate centre pivots consuming nearly 110,000 kWh at a cost of $23000. Four potential solar systems were compared with the best payback chosen to offset and reduce consumption below 100,000kWh. As consumption is just over 100MW p.a. both SAC small and large customer tariffs were considered, and a comprehensive analysis shown to minimise operating costs.

Energy Savings 40% Cost Savings $45,953

Dreamstime xl 11691167 min

Darling Downs

Brookstead Cotton Farm

Two stages were removed from a seven-stage pump which reduced the flow rate but improved the combined efficiency by 25%. The pump demand has been reduced by 12kW and even with increased running time, running costs have reduced by $1,200 per year with a payback period under two years.

Energy Savings 15% Cost Savings $1,194

Dreamstime xl 11691167 min

Darling Downs

Cecil Plains Cotton Farm

The Audit recommended a new, smaller pump which increased water flow by 1.1ML/day and improved combined efficiency by nearly 30%. The pump upgrade has been completed by the farmer even though the payback period on energy cost savings alone was estimated at over 9 years.

Energy Savings 13% Cost Savings $2,619

Dreamstime xl 11691167 min

Maranoa-Balonne

St George Cotton

The irrigation audit identified energy savings of 29% and a payback period of 1.3 years with a change to pump operations, installation of a variable speed drive to a 75kW pump and replacing the pump impellor with a full-size version. The audit also found up to $3,500 in savings available with a change in tariff. Emission savings have been estimated to be 37.9 t CO2-e.

Energy Savings 29% Cost Savings $6,024

Dreamstime xl 11691167 min

Darling Downs

Cecil Plains Cotton

The irrigation energy audit recommended replacing a 45kW line-shaft pump with a 37kW submersible pump to achieve an 3% energy savings and carbon emission reductions of 5.6 t CO2-e per annum.

Energy Savings 3% Cost Savings $1,991

Dreamstime xl 11691167 min

Fitzroy

Emerald Cotton

An energy audit of the pumping systems recommended replacement with more energy-efficient drive units, upgrading the distribution pipework and replacing pumps. Emission savings have been estimated to be 73 t CO2-e per year.

Energy Savings 19% Cost Savings $19,585

Unfortunately there are no case studies found. Please check back later or select different filter options.