00:02Running 3,500 head of cattle comes at a cost for WA's largest dairy farmer.
00:09Power charges have gone up 50% in the last 12 months.
00:12So for us we were confronted with not only just connecting to the grid
00:16but would we be able to afford to run it.
00:19For decades, Peninsula Downs has relied on grid electricity
00:23and a diesel generator to pump water to grow feed.
00:27But rising costs, unreliable power supply and climate change are taking a toll.
00:34We have to feed animals on a daily basis
00:36and we've seen reduced rainfall, reduced recharge of our groundwater
00:40so we're very passionate about renewables.
00:43To save money and reduce carbon emissions,
00:46the dairy has invested $650,000 in a hybrid solar and battery system
00:52to help power the irrigation at its Scott River farm.
00:55So we look for alternatives and this is what we came up with which is a hybrid system.
00:59You're still using the generator but basically solar and batteries.
01:03With the number of dairy farms dropping from around 400 to fewer than 100,
01:08it's an investment applauded by the state government.
01:12We're keeping a close eye on it.
01:13We want to make sure that that fresh milk supply in Western Australia remains.
01:18For this farmer there's only one way to remain viable.
01:22We need to automate so that we're less reliant on our labour input or employed labour's input.
01:28So that's the only way I see forward adopting technology for the dairy industry to survive.
01:33Solar power protecting fresh milk supplies in the West.
01:37We
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