Solar power within reach of Queensland farmers

Commissioned by Queensland Dairyfarmers and completed by The Energy Guys, the report is said to show that solar photo-voltaics (PV) can pay off depending on a farm's cost of electricity and pattern of demand. The report is called 'Feasibility of Alternative Energy in Irrigation Systems'.

The solar system would need supplementing by grid power and its success may also depend on farmers changing how they irrigate.

The results were revealed at an alternative energy field day at John Bradfield's dairy farm on the Southern Downs near Allora in Queensland. Bradfield's 27ha centre pivot irrigator was used in weighing up solar PV as an energy source.

Energy Guys' spokesman Nick Bullock says the technology and systems are there for solar PV to be used.

"We wanted to get figures to see if it is way off the scale, but it's not far off. PV with grid is out there and within the realms of realism. The key is having the confidence to change the way you irrigate and still achieve the water requirements.

"We're not talking about a small investment, but if you look at it as the long-term power source for your irrigator, and the kilowatts it is going to use, it can be attractive."

Bullock says the use of solar PV – plus the grid – for irrigation systems will be fairly common within 10 years.

"There will be systems out there, not fully replacing but offsetting some costs of irrigation. We've got to break through people's perception that it's not feasible."

The trial compared the energy use of Bradfield's irrigation system with using solar PV.

Bullock says if Bradfield continued to irrigate as he does now – 24-hour pumping four days on/four days off over summer – solar PV wouldn't be economical.

"But if he changed the way he irrigates, and if he irrigates when solar PV is available and can be supplemented by grid power, then the project stacks up much better
and is probably worth doing. If he continues to irrigate overnight it won't work."

Bullock says many farmers have tried to use off-peak power for irrigation.

"If you're using more overnight power the payback will be longer. Anyone interested would have to look at their own set-up and costs. [By using it] you're hedging your management costs by investing in your own power plant which is going to cost 6-12 cents over 25 years."

But solar PV could not work alone; it must be connected to the grid. "We looked at it as a stand-alone operation, but on the 'shoulders' morning and evening it's not going to run the irrigation plant on its own."

The other option investigated was solar PV with batteries but the cost would be $300,000-$350,000 with a payback up to 15 years – unreasonable at the moment. "It would be a stand-alone system off-grid so you'd need a bank of batteries and a bigger system – probably a 99kW peak system."

Bullock says sunny Queensland is ideal for solar PV. "There would still be some offset in southern states, but the total kilowatt hours generated there is less than Queensland. The biggest difference is the substantial reduction in generation over winter."