Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association - Advancing and protecting the interests of Cattle Producers in the Northern Territory

Ian McLean is based in the Alice Springs office and works with members throughout the Northern Territory.

The Renewable energy Rebate Program (RERP), provides a cash rebate of up to 50% to install renewable energy technologies such as solar power, wind, biomass and water power systems. More information can be obtained at the make the switch website.

Phone: 08 8952 5122
Fax: 08 8953 4260
Mobile : 0401 118 191
e-mail: ian.mclean@ntca.org.au

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Renewable Options and Opportunities for Cattle Stations

The Renewable Energy Rebate Program offers property owners a window of opportunity to reduce, over the long term, the cost of power supplies. There are still significant funds available in the Program for pastoral properties, but an increase in applications is expected over the next year.

Pastoral stations in the Territory are generally large in size, and remote from electricity wires. Studies completed by the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (DPIFM) indicate that diesel generators are extensively used for electricity generation and for irrigation and stock water supplies. With each station having a number of bores, which, in some instances, could be several kilometres apart, servicing the generating sets is time consuming and expensive.

Diesel drawbacks

While diesel generators are relatively inexpensive to purchase, there are a number of drawbacks associated with their use. Diesel generators are generally sized to meet the peak demand.

If the average demand is much lower than the peak demand then the generator will either operate at light loads or will need to be artificially loaded. At light loads, the generator uses more fuel and causes glazing of cylinder bores, and thus reducing the life of the generator.

Diesel generators are expensive to operate due to high fuel and maintenance costs. With power supply limited to generator run times, the lack of 24-hour power impacts on the quality of life. Another drawback is the noise and pollution associated with the use of diesel generators.

Renewable energy options

The high cost diesel generation and the ideal climatic conditions in the Northern Territory offer opportunities for utilising renewable energy. Renewable energy systems are ideally suited for distributed generation.

The Territory receives abundant solar energy. Solar energy has been used in the Territory for many years in a variety of niche applications, including domestic hot water and telecommunications. With recent technological developments, solar energy is becoming an increasingly viable for most pastoral stations, particularly with the rebates that are currently available. Other renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass and micro-hydro are not as abundant, and are site specific.

There are a variety of ways to convert solar energy into useful energy, including flat plate photovoltaics (PVs or solar panels), concentrator photovoltaics (PVs) and solar thermal systems

Flat plate and concentrator PVs convert sunshine directly into electricity. Solar thermal systems on the other hand first convert solar energy into heat, which is then converted into electricity. Flat plate PVs and, to a lesser extent, concentrator PVs are being used in commercial applications in the Territory.

6.4 kilowatt hybrid system at Coniston Station

6.4 kilowatt hybrid system at Coniston Station

Hybrid energy systems integrate solar panels, diesel generator, batteries, and an inverter into a single power supply system, and are most suitable for pastoral stations. Solar panels convert sunshine into electricity, which is stored in the batteries. The inverter converts battery output into single or three-phase AC. The diesel generator automatically cuts in when the batteries are low. The generator when running supplies the load and charges the batteries. The key is to find the right mix of solar array, diesel generator and battery capacity.

Hybrid energy systems offer numerous advantages:

192 kilowatt solar concentrator system at Hermannsburg

It is not practical to store energy in batteries if the demand for electricity is high. The option for large pastoral stations is to reduce the amount of diesel fuel used during the daytime by connecting the output of the solar array to the diesel grid system via an inverter without battery storage. The capital cost of solar technology and the percentage solar contribution into the diesel grid system are key factors in the viability of such systems. Pilot projects utilising concentrator PVs are currently being trialled at Hermannsburg, Yuendumu and Lajamanu communities.

The Rebate Program

While the use of solar power is becoming cost-effective over the long term for most pastoral stations, the high upfront cost of the solar equipment is still a key factor. The Renewable Energy Rebate Program (RERP) funded by the Australian Government and administered in the NT by DPIFM provides a 50 per cent rebate towards the cost of converting from expensive and environmentally damaging diesel generation to clean renewable energy.

There is no dollar limit on the amount of rebate for power systems. There is however a limit of $10,000 for replacement of diesel powered water pumps with solar pumps. Pre-purchase approval is required in the first instance. The rebate can be paid directly to the supplier once the system has been installed.

Apply now for your Renewable Energy Rebate Program assistance – it could make a whole world of difference to your life. Or call 08 8999 7348 for more information.

Solar Power protects the Dam and keeps Cattle healthy

Ted and Sheri Fogarty now have 7 solar powered water pumps on their Palmer Valley property, 5 of which were installed using the Territory Government’s renewable energy rebate to assist with the cost of the hardware. The pumping systems consist of ‘floaterators’ that sit on the surface of the dam and pump water into a tank. The pumps are powered by solar panels set up on the dam’s banks. The water then gravity feeds into a trough, supplying permanent clean water for the cattle.

The solar pumps benefit the Fogartys in more ways than just saving diesel fuel.

“Ever since we installed those solar pumps, the dams have been perfect,” says Ted. “The cattle don’t need to go anywhere near the actual dam to drink and the water stays really clean. There’s always water in the troughs coming down from the tanks – and its safe, clean water. Once those cattle get stomping in and out of the dam it’s wrecked in no time. We’d be dredging the dam every year to clean it up without this system. The solar panels also mean I’m not racing around filling up diesel generators - the power is free and goes all day!”

Sheri Fogarty says she would never return to the old diesel engine days. “These solar pumps are so easy to install,” says Sheri. “And easy to maintain. Once you’ve used them you quickly see the benefits, and even more so now that diesel is getting so expensive.”

The Palmer Valley Station water pumping systems are just some of the approximately 247 solar powered water pumping systems that have been installed in the Territory with help from the rebate program.

The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association has entered into a partnership with the Northern Territory and Australian Government to facilitate the uptake of renewable energy in the pastoral sector in the NT.

To find out more call Ian McLean on 08 8952 5122 or the Renewable Energy Team on 08 8999 7348.

The Renewable Energy Rebate Program is administered by the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, and funded by the Australian Government.

5kW Solar System installed at Paul Zlotkowski’s Amungee Mungee Property

The 5kW solar system installed at Paul Zlotkowski’s Amungee Mungee property.

Paul is one of 28 pastoralists in the Northern Territory who have so far benefited from the Renewable Energy Rebate Program by installing a remote area power supply system. The total rebates so far paid out to pastoralists amounts to about $3.5 million. This includes rebates for 194 solar powered water pumping systems. A total of 320 kilowatts of solar array has so far been installed on pastoral properties.

Paul has become somewhat of a solar veteran over the past few years. He has installed two hybrid solar-diesel systems - one 10 kilowatt system at the pastoral property Wollogorang near the Queensland border, and a 5 kilowatt system at Amungee Mungee Station on the Stuart Highway. Amungee Mungee is basically a steer depot for Wollogorang, where the cattle are held before exporting.

“It’s really just like living in town,” says Paul. “I’m here at Amungee Mungee on my own a lot, and instead of fighting with the generator on a cold morning or late at night, I bounce out of bed, switch on the light, make a cuppa and breakfast in a flash. I’m set for a good day.”

“When I first arrived here, I inherited a 60 year-old genset that was a total nightmare. Now I can run the computer all day, leave the fridges on, and know that everything will be fine while I’m away.”

"I can’t understand why you wouldn’t install a renewable energy system on a pastoral property in the NT. The way diesel prices are going, I’ll have paid all this off in a few years. I used 500 litres of diesel last year – that’s all! A family living here would usually use about 22,000 litres. The maths isn’t difficult to work out there.”

“Perhaps folks might think ‘alternative power’ is still just a wild hippy dream. But the technology has improved so much, and we also have some great solar system installers in the Territory and of course the Renewable Energy Rebate Program. Having a solar power system has improved my lifestyle so much I can’t even consider doing without it.”

The RERP is funded by the Australian Government and administered by the NT Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (DPIFM).

NTCA Partnership to Promote Renewable Energy