A number of arable farmers are partnering in a Government project exploring the use of solar and batteries on New Zealand farms.
The initiative is being run by EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) as part of the Government’s Solar on Farms initiative.
Partner farms will receive financial and technical support in setting up solar and batteries on farm. In return, they will share their solar journey, providing insights into the set-up process and the impact of solar and batteries on their farms’ power bills and resilience.
Energy Minister Simon Watts says farmers and growers are generally aware of the technology but lack certainty around the return on investment and whether it actually stacks up for their business.
“These demonstration farms will contribute vital insights and data for our farming community.”
Early EECA modelling suggests if 30 per cent of Kiwi farms installed large solar power systems they could generate as much as 10 per cent of New Zealand’s current electricity demand.
“Solar and batteries together provide a possible solution to significantly reduce the vulnerability of important domestic and export sectors. Plus, vital systems like chillers and irrigation often use a great deal of power and could be making the most of solar energy during the day,” says Richard Briggs, EECA Group Manager Delivery and Partnerships.
Forty farms from around the country have been selected as demonstration farms. Farm types include dairy, sheep and beef, and other livestock farms, poultry, arable, horticulture, plant nurseries, and vineyards. The first 32, announced this week, will receive partial funding, which covers 40% of the cost of an inverter and battery, and 20% for the the rest of the solar set up. The contracts for the remaining farms are beng finalised.