Southern Tablelands Farmers Drive Demand For Renewable Energy Ag-Tech

IMAGE: Owner of Irrigear Goulburn and Irrigear Yass, Charlie McDonald says farmers are looking for sustainable, cost-saving and user-friendly farming options.

Farmers across the Southern Tablelands are in search of technology that is viable and easy to use on their farms.

Irrigear Goulburn’s Charlie McDonald has seen first-hand the growing demand amongst landholders in the region, looking for sustainable, cost-saving and user-friendly farming options.

“Petrol and diesel water pumps can be expensive, noisy, wasteful and not great for the local environment,” Mr McDonald said.

Aussie renewable energy and water company, ReAqua has experienced a surging demand from farmers for the latest clean and green solar water pump technology.

ReAqua co-developed the LORENTZ “S” in coordination with German engineering partners LORENTZ to address what it saw as an unmet need amongst small-scale farmers looking to tap into the high-tech renewable energy equipment, previously only accessible to large scale commercial producers.

ReAqua’s General Manager of Business Development, Pat Lee grew up on a multi-generational farming property near Tamworth.

“As a company, we’ve traditionally focused on commercial scale products for large scale pastoral, farming and irrigation operations,” Mr Lee said.

“However, we keep hearing from hobby and lifestyle farmers that they also want access to this technology, but at a price point they can afford and without some of the necessary install and maintenance requirements needed for the larger commercial orientated equipment.”

“We’re really excited with the results and are keen to get the product out to as many landholders as possible.”

“There is nothing comparable on the market, so we’re seeing massive demand from consumers through to larger producers, right across the country.”

ReAqua’s CEO, Donald Fraser said the strong demand in the region was part of a broader movement within the agricultural industry, which realises the importance of incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

A recent report from the NSW Department of Primary Industries showed diesel represented over 80 per cent of the energy consumed by agriculture in the State, but there has been a shift in sentiment occurring for quite some time according to Mr Fraser.

“Collectively, farmers’ mindsets on issues such as sustainability have evolved immensely over the last decades,” he said.

“They’re set to shift even further as the next generation begins to take over properties.”