Since April 2023, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), in partnership with ACCIONA Energía, has delivered an innovative energy efficiency program helping producers across southern Queensland find energy and cost savings, and reduce their emissions.

The Energy Southern Queensland (EnergySQ) program provided farmers with expert insights, practical tools and tailored support to reduce energy costs while boosting their productivity.

Targeted at farms across six local government area - Southern Downs, Western Downs, Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Lockyer Valley, and Scenic Rim - EnergySQ supported 87 producers in total through on-farm assessments, the development of individual Energy and Carbon Action Plans, and a suite of educational resources and workshops. The program was proudly funded and supported by ACCIONA Energía, the developer of the MacIntyre Wind Precinct near Warwick, enabling farmers to access independent advice without out-of-pocket costs.

QFF CEO Jo Sheppard said the program reflected the increasing pressures faced by primary producers and the importance of practical solutions that drive both economic and environmental outcomes for farmers.

“Queensland farmers continue to adapt and innovate in an increasingly difficult operating environment,” Ms Sheppard said.

“Programs like EnergySQ provide the knowledge and tools needed to improve energy use, save on input costs, and contribute to a more sustainable farming future.”

Real results, real impact

Across the 81 tailored Action Plans developed by the EnergySQ team, more than 269 practical recommendations were made. These spanned irrigation and pumping efficiency, refrigeration upgrades, battery storage solutions, tariff optimisation and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems,demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available on-farm.

If implemented, these recommendations could collectively save over 2 GWh of electricity and 223,000 litres of diesel annually. This is equivalent to powering 358 homes and driving nearly 1.8 million kilometres in a dual cab diesel ute retrospectively. The potential provided by these savings would also reduce on-farm emissions by over 2,300 tonnes of CO₂-e per year.

The data-driven nature of the program ensured that every recommendation was tailored and feasible, with advice grounded in real-time farm data and an understanding of each farmer’s operational constraints.

Farmers leading the way

The success of EnergySQ is best illustrated by the producers who have embraced the program’s opportunities.

Ross Stuhmcke, a stonefruit grower from Blackboy Ridge Farm in the Lockyer Valley, was one such participant. Having first worked with QFF through the Energy Savers program in 2019, Ross returned to EnergySQ to explore new opportunities for his evolving business, including the feasibility of battery storage, greenhouse energy systems, and cold room upgrades.

“The QFF team made a number of suggestions on ways that we could improve our energy efficiency. We actually implemented almost all of these, including upgrading the lighting in the processing room to LED, upgrading the irrigation pumping system and a few maintenance and insulation upgrades across our cold rooms,” Ross said.

“We achieved a 33 percent improvement on our pumping efficiency and with that increased flow rate we’re now seeing production improvements of around 10-20% per year.”

Ross’s story is just one example of how tailored advice and practical support can unlock long-term savings and productivity improvements. You can read Ross’ full story here.

The video testimonials below from Savina Lane Wines and Jester Hill Winery further speak to the ongoing support and technical expertise provided by QFF’s EnergySQ team.

Building energy confidence in agriculture

In addition to its on-farm work, EnergySQ invested heavily in improving energy literacy among producers, an essential step to support long-term on-farm energy use change. Through targeted webinars, newsletters and the Queensland Ag Energy Hub, QFF delivered trusted, easy-to-understand resources that helped farmers consider different energy tariffs, solar investment, and new on-farm energy technologies, such as microgrids and virtual power plants.

The complexity of the energy market was a recurring theme during the program’s delivery. Many producers were unfamiliar with available tariffs, or unaware of the full range of energy-saving options beyond solar PV. By addressing these gaps, EnergySQ built the capacity of farmers to make informed energy decisions, both now and into the future.

The program also connected participants to other QFF initiatives, such as water efficiency trials and workforce resilience programs, creating a broader, more integrated support network for farmers navigating the current challenges and opportunities facing the agriculture sector. At least three farms were able to access rebates that were available at the time to implement their report’s recommendations.

On-farm energy efficiency opportunities moving forward

EnergySQ has demonstrated that well-supported, evidence-based initiatives can drive measurable change for farmers wanting to reduce their energy costs and improve their productivity. The program has provided a baseline for future projects where farmers and local communities can benefit through investment to support greater efficiency, productivity and sustainability in agriculture.

“Farmers are central to Australia’s energy transition. They often manage large, energy-intensive operations and have the potential to lead significant change across the regions. EnergySQ helped build their capacity to make informed energy decisions - decisions that lower costs, cut emissions, and strengthen regional resilience. That’s why we supported it.”

— Paul O’Connell, General Manager Safety, Environment and Social, ACCIONA Energía

The success of EnergySQ reinforces the need for long-term investment in energy productivity programs, tailored tariff reforms, and continued support for energy literacy across the agricultural sector.