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Solar is already cheap and an increasing number of farmers are discovering that, but Mattt Luscombe has found a way to make it even cheaper. The founder of FarmGen says architects like steel, but engineers like efficiency and taking steel out of the build and instead relying on ground anchors means the owners get more generation for less outlay.
His 1.4 megawatt system has 4000 panels set up at lower angles to reduce shade impact. This is about twice the number a typical system in that space would fit.
Because it's modular and has pre-set sizes, his team can install these systems a lot faster than the traditional approach. That saves money as well and it ends up being about half the cost of a domestic rooftop installation.
Farmers often have unused or unproductive chunks of land where these systems can sit. And while Rewiring was pleased to see more support and demonstration grants from EECA for farmers looking to get solar and batteries, plenty of keen farmers missed out. As a way to help them get what they want, Luscombe says he will match those deals.
When farmers go solar, they start to look at other ways of using the cheap, clean energy they're creating. And that's when we'll start to see more electric machines on farm.
The Electricity Authority recently consulted on two important issues: 1) Who is able to access rewards for supplying power at peak times. And 2) How much energy consumers can export. We have again been blown away by the response from the people of New Zealand on these important proposals, and humbled that a large number used the information provided by Rewiring as the foundation for powerful submissions. Here's our summary of the responses and our take on the consultations.
Read moreDownloadSolar is already cheap and an increasing number of farmers are discovering that, but Mattt Luscombe has found a way to make it even cheaper. The founder of FarmGen says architects like steel, but engineers like efficiency and taking steel out of the build and instead relying on ground anchors means the owners get more generation for less outlay.
Read moreDownloadWorld Energy Council shows cost is now the biggest issue in New Zealand's energy sector; more New Zealanders running on the sun; as reality catches up with gas users, the Google data tells a story in Australia; focus on the benefits for climate comms; electric events FTW; and Tom Sainsbury gets dirty for Uber Electric
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