February 19, 2025 

Introduction 

A large grain and cotton farm in Darlington, NSW, relies heavily on bore irrigation, making energy a critical operational cost. With rising electricity prices, the farm needed a sustainable solution to reduce costs and improve efficiency without compromising its irrigation needs. 

Challenge: High Energy Costs from Bore Pumping 

One of the farm’s bore pumps alone consumes approximately 416 MWh per year, contributing to significant electricity expenses. These high energy costs were impacting overall farm profitability, making it essential to find a way to cut costs while maintaining irrigation reliability. 

Solution: A 292.5kW Ground Mount Solar System with Smart Energy Management 

To tackle this challenge, the farm partnered with Birdwood Business Finance to install more than 29kW ground-mounted solar. The system generates approximately 525 MWh per year, reducing reliance on grid electricity and significantly lowering costs. 

• The system is owned and operated by Birdwood Business Finance, allowing the farm to benefit from renewable energy without any upfront capital investment. 

• A remote-controlled pumping cycle was implemented to optimise solar energy use, ensuring maximum efficiency and cost savings. 

Results: Lower Costs and Greater Operational Efficiency 

The solar project has delivered immediate and long-term benefits to the farm: 

• Daytime Energy Cost Savings: The farm has achieved a 43% reduction in daytime electricity costs, directly improving profitability. 

• Long-Term Financial Gains: Over the lifetime of the agreement, savings are projected to reach exceed $500,000. 

• Optimised Pumping Cycles: The use of remote controls for energy management ensures that solar power is used as efficiently as possible, maximising savings and sustainability. 

By integrating solar energy and smart irrigation controls, the farm has successfully reduced costs, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced long-term sustainability — setting a benchmark for other agricultural businesses in the region. 

That’s where birdwood is able to help. Each quarter we give our customers an easy to read report on how their system is tracking, forecasted performance and updates to their proposed phasing.

Reach out now to find out more.