Stock & Land

Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green

Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green
Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green

Story sponsored by Solar Link Australia. 

As the nation struggles through one of the worst droughts in a decade, more and more producers are making the switch to solar power to significantly reduce their operating costs. 

As the director of one of the country’s leading renewables retailer, Solar Link Australia director Adam Dolkins has helped many clients find reprieve though these tough seasonal conditions. 

With the right system, he says, it is possible to save tens of thousands of dollars a year. In fact, some of his clients have reduced their electricity costs to zero! 

“If you have a solar installation it just means your electricity bill is going to be smaller. And if it’s sized correctly, it’ll be non-existent,” Mr Dolkins said. 

“What a lot of farmers are doing is installing a system for nothing – so we’re arranging finance for them – and then they’re just paying a monthly repayment fee for three, four or five years,” he explained. 

Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green
Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green

“The amount of money they’re paying each month in repayments is typically less than what they would be paying in electricity bills anyway so, it’s cash flow positive,” he continued.

“After the final repayment has been paid the system belongs to them and the savings are ongoing for the next 25 to 30 years.”

Making the switch to solar isn’t as difficult or costly as it once was and the installation costs won’t throw out the balance sheet either. 

Like the electricity bill, the repayments just become part of the day-to-day operating costs and they can be claimed as a tax deduction. 

Plus, every kilowatt the system generates is a kilowatt that otherwise would’ve been purchased from the grid, Mr Dolkins points out. 

However, the benefits of solar aren’t just economic. As producers struggle through tough seasonal conditions, it’s worth remembering that climate change is making the situation worse. 

Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green
Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green

The CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology have warned if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase the resulting rise in land, air and sea temperature will pose distinct challenges to industry.

Using models based upon comprehensive data and the established laws of physics, they are confident regions across the country will have to confront: longer periods of drought, reductions in rainfall, increasing potential evapotranspiration, reductions in soil moisture, increases in the number of hot days each year, increased risk of bush fires, less frequent but more intense cyclones and increased intensity of extreme weather events, like storms and floods.   

One of the leading causes of climate change is carbon emissions associated with burning coal for electricity generation. Going solar significantly reduces your individual carbon footprint.

“For every kilowatt you install your solar system will reduce your carbon emissions on average by between 1.5 to 2 tonnes per anum,” Mr Dolkin said.

“So if you were in somewhere like Queensland (where the sun is always shining), you’d reduce your carbon emissions by about 10 tonnes per anum.”  

Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green
Producers saving tens of thousands of dollars a year in a drought by going green

Mr Dolkin says solar is no longer the “the technology of the future”, pointing out that millions of households and businesses across the country were already reaping the benefits. And, that number increases each year.

“There’s really no reason not to do it,” he said.

“We’ve got among the highest electricity prices in the world yet we’ve also got an abundance of the greatest natural resources known to man – sunshine – and it’s free. We should be taking advantage of that.”

Solar Link can provide both stand alone battery and grid connected solar systems as well as hybrid models that use the grid as a backstop. 

The systems are also backed by long term warranties. The Samsung and LG batteries Solar Link sell are guaranteed for 10 years, whilst the panels are backed for 25 years.

For more information visit www.solarlinkaustralia.com.au or give them a call on 1800 155 597.

Story sponsored by Solar Link Australia.