With power prices and weather disruptions putting new pressure on farm operations, this RaboTalk Growing our Future episode explores practical ways New Zealand farmers and growers can build energy resilience while improving the bottom line.
Blake Holgate is joined by EECA’s Chris McArthur to discuss what the Solar on Farms programme is seeing across demonstration farms nationwide, including how today’s solar stacks up on cost and performance.
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Show Notes:
EECA and the Energy Transition
Chris explains the role of EECA in promoting energy efficiency and renewables. Growing up on a sheep and beef farm, he has seen solar technology become cheaper and more powerful, making it a practical choice for modern agriculture. The organisation focuses on providing impartial information to help farmers make strategic decisions.
The Solar on Farms Programme
To provide producers with up-to-date data, EECA has established 37 demonstration farms across various sectors and regions. These farms monitor performance and share the unvarnished truth about the installation process, helping other growers understand the benefits and barriers without the typical marketing noise.
Building Resilience with Batteries
While solar saves money from day one, batteries provide critical resilience. Chris notes that a battery can prevent the chaos of power cuts during milking and highlights a 2025 Southland case study where a farm continued operating through major storms. While the upfront cost is higher, the ability to milk through an outage is a major risk mitigant.
Sizing and System Costs
Investment levels vary significantly based on farm type. Systems range from small 10,000 dollar setups for sheep and beef units to large 500,000 dollar investments for high-use dairy and irrigation sheds. The goal is to right-size the system to match on-farm usage, as exporting excess power to the grid often yields lower financial returns.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Farmers must consider dust management on panels, especially near unsealed roads, as it can significantly affect output. Another key consideration is the complexity of multiple electricity connections (ICPs). Chris recommends ensuring solar is installed on the meter with the highest load to maximise the return on investment.
The Future: Electrification by 2035
Looking ahead, Chris predicts a major shift toward the electrification of farm vehicles and heavy machinery. This transition will reduce reliance on long, volatile supply chains for liquid fuels, replacing them with locally produced on-farm energy that is visualised and managed through smart apps.
Final Advice: Start Saving Today
Chris encourages farmers not to wait for the next big technological leap. Solar technology is already at a compelling price point, and as soon as a system is switched on, it begins paying for itself. The best time to start locking in energy costs and building operational resilience is now.
