- Batteries will help farmers to lower energy costs
- Batteries increase energy security in rural communities
- The payoff period for farm batteries is currently around 10 years and this could be reduced with government support
Farmers for Climate Action (FCA), representing more than 8,400 farmer members, is calling for policies to support on-farm batteries for all farmers.
FCA CEO Natalie Collard said supporting farmers to buy batteries would charge up productivity and turn down farm energy bills.
"Supporting farmers to buy batteries encourages farmers to create their own energy and use it on-farm," Ms Collard said.
"All farmers would benefit from being able to use the energy they create during the day in the evening time and early in the morning - dairy farmers in particular.
"Currently, it takes around 10 years for a battery bought for a farm to pay for itself. We need to bring that figure down to around a five year payoff to make it attractive for farmers.
"Helping farmers lower their energy bills helps keep the cost of producing Australia's food from increasing even more.
"Getting more batteries into the grid also smooths out the massive demand peaks in the evening and around breakfast time and helps increase local energy security.
"It can also mean farms can continue to operate vital equipment during a blackout, such as the refrigerated vats which keep milk cold. We've heard too many stories about dairy farmers having to pour out thousands of litres of milk due to local power outages.
Improving access to batteries will lower electricity bills, reduce grid pressure in rural areas, and encourage farmers to create and store their own energy while reducing reliance on volatile coal and gas prices," Ms Collard said.
