Projects

Queensland Business Energy Saving and Transformation (QBEST) Program

QBEST Ag is an initiative under the QBEST program aimed at helping small-to-medium-sized agricultural businesses reduce their electricity costs through sharing information and practical advice on efficient energy use.

As part of this initiative, the Queensland Farmers Federation delivered 35 onsite farm energy audits across key agricultural sectors to identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency within the Queensland agricultural industry. In 2024, Saturn Engineering Group was tasked to conduct 9 of the onsite farm energy audits. These audits ranged from pump and irrigation systems on cotton, citrus and sugar farms to a feedlot and piggery. QBEST Ag builds on previous energy audits supported by the Queensland Government. Results are being published on the new Ag Energy Hub, which contains resources and case studies that demonstrate how agricultural businesses can boost their productivity and returns. Case studies for the 9 farm energy audits conducted by Saturn Engineering Group are here.

Energy Savers Plus Extension Program

The Energy Savers Plus Extension Program was part of the Queensland Government’s $2 billion affordable energy plan that aimed to assist agricultural businesses identify and realise energy savings and productivity improvements. The objective of the Energy Savers program is to assist farmers reduce energy costs by supporting the accelerated adoption of improvements in on-farm energy use. The Energy Savers Plus Extension Program is delivered in by the Queensland Farmers Federation with support and funding from the Queensland Government. In 2019, Saturn Engineering Group was tasked to conduct 16 of the onsite farm energy audits. These audits ranged from pump and irrigation systems on cotton, lucerne and cattle farms

Large Customer Adjustment Program

The Large Customer Adjustment Program delivered additional energy audits to 11 regional large customers and co-contributions of up to $250,000 to encourage large electricity customers in rural and regional Queensland to implement the audit recommendations. The Program was funded by the Queensland Government and delivered by Ergon Energy. In 2019, Saturn Engineering Group was tasked to conducted 2 of the onsite farm energy audits. These audits include river extraction pumps on a cotton farm, and a pump and irrigation system for a table grape farm

Energy saver program

The Energy Savers Programs delivered energy audits to more than 300 farms across all agricultural industries throughout Queensland between 2015 and 2022.

The first part of the Energy Savers Program was a partnership between Ergon Energy and Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) and its member bodies. It was funded by the Queensland Government.

The program helped farmers reduce their energy costs by providing information and tools to adopt more efficient practices and technologies with irrigation and on-farm processing, including refrigeration and cold storage.

The Energy Savers Program occurred in a number of stages across Queensland, with the first two stages including farms in both Ergon and Energex territories:

Irrigators Energy Savers Program 2013 – 2015: 30 irrigation audits were conducted on a range of different farms and irrigation types
Energy Savers Plus Program 2015 – 2017: Up to 100 audits were conducted across a range of irrigation and on-farm processing systems in a number of sectors.

The Programs resulted in the development of a number of case studies and associated resources offering readers a range of insights into farm energy consumption and opportunities to improve energy efficiency on farm. These case studies and resources are now available on the Queensland Ag Energy Hub. In 2016, Saturn Engineering Group was tasked to conduct 5 of the onsite farm energy audits. These audits ranged from pump and irrigation systems on cotton farms, and an onion/garlic farm.

Irrigation System

Irrigation systems assessed range from typical flood Irrigation, with river and/or tail water pump stations, to CPLM irrigators, bore pumps, drip irrigation and sprinkler systems

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Phil Szabo – Managing Director

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