Fruit growers benefit from energy-efficiency grant

An energy-efficiency grant could help Australian fruit growers reduce their costs by up to 20%. Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) was one of 18 groups that received funding as part of Round Two of the Energy Efficiency Information Grants (EEIG) Program.

The $636,970 grant, for the company’s Watts in Your Business project, will assist 2600 Australian summer fruit, cherry, apple and pear growers make changes to reduce costs and greenhouse emissions. Fruit growers face electricity costs of about 17% of total operating costs for orchards and pack houses, according to APAL Managing Director Jon Durham.

“A recent study conducted by the Department of the Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) Victoria revealed that energy costs could be reduced by almost 20% through cost-effective, energy-saving opportunities with short payback periods,” Durham said.

“Growers will be able to see first-hand where potential energy savings could be made and will contribute to reducing Australia’s environmental footprint - and that’s a win for all Australians.”

Resources and Energy and Small Business Minister Gary Gray launched the project, which was funded by revenue from the carbon price.

“Using energy audits, workshops, seminars, case studies and hands-on demonstrations, this project sees government, business and industry working together to understand the benefits energy efficiency can bring to small business,” Gray said.

The project’s first step will be a survey of grower awareness of, and attitudes towards, ways to save energy on properties and within packing sheds. From the survey responses, sites for energy audits will be selected.

“The project will conduct 30 energy audits throughout the 10 temperate fruit production regions across Australia to identify energy-saving opportunities. The audit findings will then be presented to growers in a series of workshops in pack houses around Australia,” Durham said.

Growers will be contacted by APAL, or partners Summerfruit Australia Limited and Cherry Growers Australia, to gauge interest in participating in the project. It will be conducted over an 18-month period, with results rolled out in the second half of 2014.

The EEIG program has so far funded 46 projects across the country, with more than half to be delivered at a national level. It is expected to reach over 200,000 businesses and 70,000 community organisations through $34.3 million in funding, as well as ongoing guidance and support.