Two farmers who have used renewables as a way of increasing profitability will speak at a Victorian conference later this month
New Zealander Mike Casey and Victorian Caleb Smith will present at the National Renewables in Ag Conference, which will be held in Bendigo on July 23.
It will mark the first time in six years that Victoria has hosted the conference and will bring together farmers, energy experts, researchers, industry leaders and government representatives to explore the practicalities, opportunities and challenges of renewable energy in agriculture.
Farmer and conference founder Karin Stark says cutting input costs is becoming increasingly critical to Australian farmers, with the integration of technologies like electric machinery and bioenergy moving from vision to reality.
“Farmers are increasingly turning to renewables to tackle the challenge of rising diesel and electricity prices,” she says.
“But there’s still work to be done in making the right technologies available and ensuring regional contractors and services are equipped to deliver.
“We’ll be discussing the evolving distribution network and microgrids, and the potential for smaller, distributed solar projects on farms – say 5MW systems – feeding directly into the local network.
“There are also emerging opportunities for farmers to be paid for providing energy services as new markets develop.”
As part of the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to attend Caleb’s farm the next day for a tour of the biogas generator, something which he estimates saves about $200,000 per year.
“Quite often farmers would like to do something like this but they don’t,” Caleb says.
“I think the reasons we don’t often is because of the unknown. What we don’t know is scarier.
“So speaking about what we have done and having people come and see how simple it and showing it is possible, will hopefully encourage others to do the same.”
Registrations for the conference, which will be held at Bendigo’s Capital Theatre, can be made by visiting https://renewablesinagconference.com.au/register-now/