INDUSTRY NEWS
National Renewables in Agriculture Conference
By Ella Henson, ABA Sustainability Manager
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THE National Renewables in Agriculture Conference was held in Orange, NSW on 12 August 2026, bringing together farmers, agricultural and energy consultants, peak industry bodies and government representatives. The conference centred around practical, real-world case studies from farmers adopting renewable energy, including the economics, challenges and lessons learned throughout their journey. With many different industries represented, it was evident that Australian farmers are facing many of the same challenges, including unpredictable climatic conditions and rising costs of fuel and electricity. However, these challenges also present opportunities to invest in innovative solutions that build resilience and improve productivity. A broad range of technologies were discussed, ranging from large-scale wind and solar developments to scalable on-farm solar and battery solutions. Other forms of renewable energy, including anaerobic digestion, green hydrogen and biofuels produced from grain, were also discussed. Maggie Jarrett( wine producer and export & ESG manager, See-Saw Wines) described the abundance of energy opportunities as one of the biggest opportunities agricultural and regional communities have seen in decades. Although there are many successful examples of renewable energy adoption, the transition to renewable energy is not without its fair share of challenges. Presenters highlighted several key barriers, including the cost and complexity of grid connections, policy uncertainty and a consistently negative media narrative. For almond growers, irrigation pumping accounts for a significant proportion of electricity use. Irrigation is frequently undertaken at night when solar generation is unavailable. This means solar alone cannot provide a complete solution without adequate battery storage. Like almond orchards, dairy farms
In A Nutshell- Spring 2026 Vol 27 Issue 3
require reliable access to electricity beyond daylight hours. Victorian dairy farmer Peter Mulheron has addressed this challenge with a portable microgrid combining solar panels and battery storage, providing greater flexibility and access to renewable energy when it is needed. Some key learnings for growers considering the transition to renewable energy include:
• Prioritise energy efficiency: look for ways to reduce energy use before investing in new technologies.
• Understand your energy needs: identify where, when and how energy is being used across the farm.
• Don’ t let perfection be the enemy of progress: small, incremental changes can deliver meaningful benefits over time.
• Don’ t put all your eggs in one basket: consider a mix of energy solutions to improve flexibility, resilience and energy security. Agriculture accounts for approximately 18 %( 18.2 % in recent national greenhouse accounts) of Australia’ s total greenhouse gas emissions but has the capacity to be a much bigger part of the solution. However, adequate policy and appropriate financial support will be essential to enable this transition.
Jason Jarrett hosted a field tour at his vineyard as part of the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference. See Saw Wines plans to expand its renewable energy capacity in coming years.
See Saw Wines The field tour to See Saw Wines the following day featured insights from Jason and Maggie Jarrett, who shared the business’ s approach to improving farm margins while improving the land at the same time. The long-term goal is to move towards a closed-loop system, supported by continued investment in renewable energy, including solar and battery storage. See Saw Wines’ overarching philosophy is to leave the land better than they found it while improving profitability. The business is taking an incremental approach to reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency, recognising that energy costs have become an increasingly significant business expense. Over the past 10-15 years, fuel and electricity costs have increased substantially, shifting energy from a relatively minor cost to an important driver of cost reduction. See Saw Wines currently has a 10-kilowatt solar system, with plans to expand its renewable energy capacity. Future options include floating solar panels on the farm dam and purpose-designed,“ grazing-proof” solar panels suitable for areas where sheep are grazing.