Energy Infrastructure for future farming

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has published our interactive online map and key findings in relation to the Energy Infrastructure for Future Farming project at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/climate/energy/clean-energy/electricity-supply-constraints-and-opportunities-for-intensive-industries

On this project we assessed the scope and cost for transitioning on-farm energy infrastructure to lower carbon and/or more electrified power sources.

 A significant part of the project involved mapping the prospective amount of available capacity on the regional electricity distribution network in NSW and overlaying this against the energy intensity of key agricultural industries. This provided insight into areas where network capacity could be a potential limiting factor to increased agricultural production, and where investment in on-farm, low carbon energy infrastructure may be the most attractive solution for farmers.

 Our review of case studies revealed that the opportunities for farming enterprises to invest in bespoke energy transition solutions are plentiful, with solar PV and battery systems being the most prevalent to date. A major factor in the type of solution chosen was found to be the magnitude and timing of the peak load for the individual farming operation.

 We really enjoyed partnering with DPI on this project and believe the agriculture sector is ripe when it comes to opportunities for the energy transition!