Machinery & Infrastructure
1 July, 2026
Renewables delivering real returns
VOLATILE commodity prices, rising feed and energy costs, labour shortages, biosecurity requirements and increasingly variable weather conditions are all putting pressure on farm businesses.
At the same time, agriculture is being asked to reduce emissions, electrify operations and play a larger role in Australia’s energy transition.
For many producers, the challenge is knowing where to start and what actually stacks up commercially.
That is the focus of the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo, which will be held in Orange, NSW, on Wednesday, August 12.
The event showcases practical examples from farmers who are already using renewable energy to cut costs, improve efficiency and create new income streams.
The conference has sold out in each of the past two years.
This year’s program includes more than 10 farmers sharing their experiences, with technologies ranging from battery storage and solar-powered irrigation to electric farm vehicles, biofuels, on-farm fertiliser production and opportunities to earn income from the distribution network.
Tom Warren, a farmer in Dubbo NSW, will speak about how he grazes sheep under solar panels and the tax implications of hosting large scale renewable energy developments.
Claire Booth, farmer and lawyer, will also cover risk and insurance implications for farmers and neighbours of solar and wind developments.
Among the speakers will be Gippsland poultry farmer Chris Freney, whose business C-Loop is developing an ambitious anaerobic digestion (AD) project that demonstrates how agricultural waste can be transformed into multiple revenue streams.
While the project is based on poultry litter, many of the lessons around waste management, energy production and nutrient recovery are highly relevant to intensive livestock industries.
Freney’s system will convert poultry litter into renewable electricity, industrial gases and valuable agricultural inputs, turning what was once a disposal challenge into a diversified business opportunity.
A key feature of the project is that it has been designed around three separate revenue streams rather than relying solely on electricity generation.
The first revenue stream comes from renewable electricity.
Methane produced through the digestion process will fuel an internal combustion engine capable of generating around 8.5MW of dispatchable power.
Approximately half of the electricity will be used on-farm, helping reduce operating costs, while the remainder will be sold into the electricity market.
Importantly, the system is designed to supply power during evening peak demand periods of 5pm-11pm when electricity prices are typically highest.
The second revenue stream comes from capturing and selling carbon dioxide produced during the digestion process.
The gas will be separated and sold into industrial markets, with offtake agreements already secured.
The third revenue stream comes from recovering nutrients from the digestion process to support algae and spirulina production, creating natural food colourings.
Together, these multiple income streams have been critical in demonstrating the commercial viability of the project to lenders and investors.
In addition to the main conference on August 12, a farmer-only networking session will be held on the afternoon of August 11, providing an opportunity for producers to meet speakers, ask questions and discuss projects in an informal setting.
Two wind farm hosts will join this session to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly.
For those wanting to see renewable energy systems operating in the real world, optional farm tours will take place on August 13 at either a solar-powered winery or the Flyers Creek Wind Farm.
For farmers facing rising energy costs and looking for practical ways to improve profitability, the event offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from farmers who are already implementing these technologies and making them work commercially.