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Following on from the Government's announcement at Fieldays, farmers now have a helpline to call and co-funding available for solar and battery systems.
Going electric is smart, but all that chat about kilowatts, connection sizes and export limits can be a bit confusing. That's why good, independent advice is so important and it's great to see EECA's new solar on farms phoneline is open for business.
Everyone loves a discount, so it's also great to see there's an opportunity for farms to get some demonstration funding for solar and battery systems, as long as you meet the criteria and are willing to share your experience. Co-funding applications open 18 September and offer up to $200k per farm for systems from 30-500Kw.
Solar and batteries can lower costs, lower emissions and improve resilience. And it's one area where farmers don't have to compromise on anything. The sector is going well at the moment, and there are big payouts on the horizon for many after the sale of Fonterra's consumer brands, so it could be a good time to invest.
More solar and batteries doesn't just help the farmers, however. It will also be an important part of our future energy system and help bring the price of electricity down for everyone else, too.
As EECA says:
On-farm solar, battery storage, and flexible energy systems are becoming practical, viable options for powering farms and growing operations. Solar generation can also offer farmers greater control over their energy use, supporting efficiency and productivity.
The solar on farms initiative provides trusted information and support options to help farmers and growers unlock the potential of solar and battery energy systems to reduce on-farm costs, improve energy resilience, and drive long-term energy security.
We've been wanting to get Transport Minister Chris Bishop on our Political Power series for a while now and Mike Casey had a chance to chat with him about his electric life (and his potential anointment as the Archbishop of Electrification) in Queenstown recently.
Read moreDownloadYes, and it's called the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme: As researcher Kimberley O'Sullivan writes: "Rather than being viewed as a luxury policy, supporting low-income households to install solar could make for a practical investment that eases energy hardship and strengthens energy resilience. The Winter Energy Payment will still be needed for many households in the years ahead. But, as global instability increasingly feeds into local energy costs, there is a case for policies that reduce reliance on annual bill support and bring household electricity costs down."
Read moreDownloadGovernment-backed bank loans for businesses hoping to transition from gas to electricity have been announced as part of the Budget and Rewiring Aotearoa believes it’s a positive move that will help more of them get past the upfront cost barrier of electrification. Now it's time to match that with a loan scheme for households.
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