Renewables program helping businesses save
A cattle station is saving thousands of dollars a year by switching water bore pumps from diesel power to solar.
Jervois Station, 350km by road north-east of Alice Springs, used an $18,000 grant under the Territory Government’s Smarter Business Solutions program to replace four pumps.
The business uses about 140 litres of diesel per bore per month at an annual cost of more than $10,000.
The new solar-powered bores are expected to cut diesel consumption by about 5,270 litres a year.
The expenditure is expected to be repaid in less than 4.5 years.
Station managers Kiya and Steve Broad have saved a substantial amount of money on diesel, labour and maintenance by switching to solar.
“Switching to solar doesn’t just save on the cost of diesel,” said Kiya. “It takes a lot of physical strength to start a mono pump. With solar, you just have to flick a switch. I can easily do it with the kids in tow.”
Smarter Business Solutions offers help to Territory businesses, Aboriginal enterprises and not-for-profit organisations to reduce energy, water, waste and material costs.
Support includes advice on efficient technologies and practices; a walk-through site survey to identify potential savings opportunities; and grants to encourage and support cost savings or initiatives.
Funding is only available for projects that have not started and is subject to the program's available grant budget.
Maximum funding is only available for projects that show a simple financial payback of 3 to 5 years.
For more information, go to the Northern Territory Government website.
