Agriculture Energy Investment Plan – On-Farm Energy Assessments

This program aims to analyse on-farm energy use and identify opportunities to make energy savings; improve output volumes per energy unit; and convert to renewable energy sources. It forms part of the Victorian  Government's Agriculture Energy Investment Plan (AEIP) which seeks to support on-farm businesses to improve energy efficiency, manage energy costs, improve energy reliability and support own-generation capacity.

Independent on-farm energy assessments are available free of charge to eligible primary producers. The assessments will be conducted by registered independent experts to the national standard (AS/NZS 3598.2:2014).

There are two types of energy assessment available:
1. Type 1 - Low energy users
- Aims to provide the recipient with a prioritised list of actions and parts that could be upgraded or replaced or suggested energy efficiency improvements to save the farm business money. The assessment recommendations will focus on actions with an appropriate payback period (i.e. less than four years).
- Suitable for farm businesses that have annual energy costs greater than $8,000 per annum (including GST).

2. Type 2 - Medium/high energy users
- Aims to provide the recipient with a comprehensive analysis of energy improvement opportunities for farmers with higher energy costs compared to a Type 1 assessment. It will provide a comprehensive analysis of energy efficiency improvements to prioritise improvements ranging from quick wins to those with longer paybacks.
- Suitable for farm businesses who have annual energy costs greater than $25,000 per annum (including GST).

The energy assessments will provide analysis of on-farm energy use (electricity, gas and diesel) tailored to the type, size and systems of operation. Recipients will be provided with a report recommending key investments and other energy saving opportunities with estimates on savings and costs.

Eligible applicants include farm businesses in Victoria and must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a business with an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an eligible business site located in Victoria.
- Be a farm business which is either:
a) Cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts (including seeds, spores, bulbs and similar things) in any physical environment.
b) Maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce (including natural increase).
c) Manufacturing dairy produce from raw material that they produce.
d) Operating on-land aquaculture facilities.
- Expend more than $8,000 per annum (including GST) on energy at business site location to be assessed inclusive of electricity, gas, LPG and diesel (but excludes energy for transport).
- Be a legal entity.
- Meet all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards.
- Agree to participate in future program evaluation activity.

Where a project involves more than one applicant, the lead farm should submit the application.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the list of ineligible applicants.

Eligible project expenditure for Type 1 and Type 2 energy assessments includes:
- Consultants (Energy Assessor) or technical expertise
- Contractor labour
- Hiring of monitoring equipment
- Travel costs (where appropriate)