In the agricultural sectors of Australia and New Zealand, there is a movement towards the electrification of machinery and the exploration of alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Australian Farm Institute highlights the dominance of diesel, constituting approximately 85% of farm energy usage, underscoring the necessity for renewable and low-emission fuels in achieving net-zero emissions. Major machinery manufacturers are responding by introducing electric tractors, with models up to 100 horsepower now entering the Australian market.
In New Zealand, Otago cherry producer Mike Casey operates a 6-hectare orchard entirely free from fossil fuels, producing 80 tonnes of cherries with a fleet of 21 electric machines, including prototypes and converted vehicles. Casey reports an annual saving of around $40,000 in energy costs due to the electrification of his operations.
However, the transition faces challenges in Australia, particularly for large-scale grain growers dealing with rural locations, long operation cycles, and the need for powerful machinery. The Grain Growers lobby group identifies biofuels, green hydrogen, and renewable electric power as potential solutions, with biofuels seen as a critical transitional fuel until technologies like hydrogen become economically viable.
Source: abc.net.au