On farm power all fuelled up
With the cost of poles and wires rising to unrealistic rates, more diesel powered generation, not less, is the immediate future, say retailers at Gunnedah's AgQuip this year.
Queensland manager for Welling and Crossley, John Graves, was pleasantly surprised when the first customer on the opening day of AgQuip ordered a 14kVa diesel powered generator to run electric pivot irrigation pumps as well as providing electricity to the house.
"He is not alone," said Mr Graves. "We hear some horror stories about the cost of getting three-phase power to pivots and worksheds. The figures go into six figures.
"When you consider a custom set-up diesel genset costs in the order of $15,000 compared to this customer's quote of $80,000 to string 300 metres of copper to the site and connect to the grid you can see why people are making these kind of decisions."
Modern units that run at reduced RPM are quiet and efficient. Pivot irrigators rotating slowly only draw something like 3 to 4 amps which equates to 1.5 litres an hour of fuel.
"Power from a diesel genset is cheaper than what the authorities can deliver," said Mr Graves.
