Renewable energy is assisting reduce energy costs on farm and increase energy reliability. Solar and wind technologies offer reliable, low-emission power solutions for farms of all sizes. This section explores how producers are using solar arrays for irrigation, cooling, and processing, and how wind turbines are being integrated into operations where conditions are favourable.
Resources include technical guides, agrivoltaics research, and economic modelling to help assess feasibility. By harnessing renewable energy, farmers can reduce grid dependency, lower energy bills, and contribute to a more sustainable food system.
Combining Farming and Solar: A Practical Guide for NSW Landowners
A new resource is now available to help landowners and solar developers unlock the benefits of combining agriculture with solar energy. The Agrivoltaics Handbook, developed by Farm Renewables Consulting and ...
Growing horticulture through protected cropping innovation
Doctors Ian Goodwin and Alessio Scalisi from Agriculture Victoria present findings from their leading four-year agrivoltaics experiment at the Tatura SmartFarm, Panels Over Pears. This research is among the ...
Automating fixed sprays to maximise solar energy utilisation
Wilandra farms has integrated the automation of 22 ha of fixed spray irrigation and a 50 kW solar array. The automation programming maximises solar usage by matching available energy to ...
Landowners and renewable energy developments: what you need to know – webinar recording
Do you want to know more about the renewable energy transition and the processes involved with renewable energy developments? At times, landowners in suitable areas are contacted by developers exploring ...
Insights from the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan – Webinar recording
The Agriculture Energy Investment Plan has supported agricultural businesses to reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency and explore alternative energy options through energy assessments, grants, demonstrations, research and extension. Agriculture ...
Agrivoltaics – Sheep grazing in solar farms; good for both
As most rural communities would be aware, interest from energy companies in building commercial scale solar farms has never been higher. Among the numerous concerns expressed by potential neighbours and ...
Analysis shows energy advances by Victorian farmers
Agriculture Victoria has analysed data from 680 on-farm energy assessments and 320 grants to create a unique summary of Victoria’s on-farm energy use and improvements. This is a very large ...
Final results are in for NSW DPI’s energy efficiency farm pilot program
As part of the NSW Climate Change Research Strategy, NSW Department of Primary Industries implemented 7 energy pilot projects across 8 sites to demonstrate innovative technologies and practices to improve ...
Solar energy savings at Wilandra farm – Clydebank
Wilandra farm has been on a journey to reduce irrigation energy costs and maximise the utilisation of PV solar energy generated. The farm’s energy bills for irrigation were about $100,000 ...
Doolan’s Energy Smart Dairy Farm with Heat Pump Technology
Peter Doolan is a third-generation dairy farmer at Doolan Farms. Peter share farms with his brother Sam, their wives and his parents in Ecklin South, southwest Victoria milking 600 cows ...
Investing in Sustainable Energy – Larkman Nurseries – Webinar recording
Agriculture Victoria hosted a webinar on investing in sustainable energy with Larkman Nurseries. In this webinar Kelly Wickham, Agriculture Victoria, provides an overview of horticulture energy use and greenhouse gas ...
Sustainability with solar
As their Central Victorian free-range pig business grew, farmers Jason and Belinda Hagan found opportunities for greater farm efficiency, cost savings and equally important, producing new quality pork products. The ...
