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 will assist 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 firsthand where potential energy savings could be made and will contribute to reducing Australia’s environmental footprint - and that’s a win for all Australians.”

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.

The project will commence this week and will be conducted over an 18-month period. Results will be rolled out in the second half of 2014.