Embracing Solar Power for Sustainable Farm Operations

Understanding the Needs:

• Initial consultation: CEO Sam Gardel visited the Sporne property to gain a comprehensive understanding of their energy usage. This included analysing the six pumps scattered across the 1,000-acre farm, powering everything from irrigation to stock water.
• Energy audit: Through this audit, Sam discovered eight different energy meters on the property, indicating potential for streamlining.

Customised Solar Solution:

• Reduced metering: The final design eliminated four meters, replaced by four strategically positioned solar systems.
• Targeted irrigation: The system prioritised daytime irrigation, maximising solar power utilisation for pump operation.
• System breakdown:
  • Commercial:
    • Three 40kW solar systems with a total of 264 Canadian Solar 450-watt modules (mounted on the ground and a shed using Clenergy’s PV Easy Rack)
    • Three Sungrow SG30CX 30kW Three-Phase Inverters
  • Residential:
    • One 6.6kW solar system with 18 Canadian Solar 370-watt black-framed modules
    • One Sungrow SG5K-D Premium 5kW Single Phase Inverter
    • One Sungrow S100 Smart Energy Meter

Project Benefits:

• Energy generation and cost savings: In just six months, the systems produced over 105MWh of energy, translating to an estimated $22,000 in savings.
• High self-consumption rate: The system offsets over 80% of the farm’s annual energy consumption, significantly reducing electricity bills. Notably, the self-consumption rate reaches 90% during dry periods with no rain.
• Full export approval: Even when pumps are not running, the Spornes benefit from full export capabilities.
• Reduced carbon footprint: in the six months since installation, the Spornes have prevented over 45,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions entering the atmosphere.

A Collaborative Effort:

Gardel Electrical & Solar acknowledges the valuable contributions of the Sporne family, Clenergy Australia, Sungrow, and Canadian Solar in bringing this impactful project to life.

Thinking about improving irrigation pump efficiency on your farm with solar power?

Contact Gardel Electrical & Solar today and explore how we can design a customised solution to meet your specific needs and unlock a more sustainable future for your agricultural operations.