Renewable energy has improved immensely in recent times and may provide opportunities for farming businesses to further diversify revenue streams.
Businesses transitioning to allow the next generation to enter have traditionally invested in more land, but there is a growing proportion investing in intensive livestock systems including poultry sheds.
BCG chief executive Chris Sounness said not only do these intensive industries allow for the next generation to join the business, but include added benefits for the local community.
“A $2 to $3 million investment in land versus an investment in intensive chickens has a comparable return, but the added benefit of diversification, an income stream less affected by climate variability, and increased members in the local community are positive,” Mr Sounness said. “But one of the large financial outlays with intensive poultry sheds is the electrical bill associated with keeping the temperature constant.”
Reducing the $50,000 to $100,000 annual electricity bill is where renewable energy will be beneficial.
A solar microgrid enables producers to use roof space to create energy that they can firstly use in their own operations but, with the use of batteries, sell energy back to the main electricity grid.
The Victorian government Microgrid Demonstration Initiative, which aims to showcase the use of energy storage in different settings, will see BCG explore the potential for growers who have diversified into intensive animal industries to apply microgrid technology to their farming business.
With the help of advanced energy technology company SwitchDin, commercial microgrid developer Walnut Energy and Wade’s Horsham, 51kW solar and 137kW battery microgrid is being installed on the rooves of the BCG office.
“The system being installed on the office and laboratory will enable BCG to display, test and try the microgrid technology and demonstrate the learnings to local growers throughout the Wimmera and Mallee,” Mr Sounness said.
