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Beef up your savings by investing in energy efficiency upgrades with QRIDA

30 April 2026

By Regional Area Manager for the North West and Gulf, Sam Fryer.

Energy efficiency is essential to the long-term productivity and profitability of beef and cattle farms, with on-farm upgrades proven to significantly reduce energy consumption, costs, and emissions.

For example, an energy efficiency audit conducted by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) found that beef and cattle farms in Queensland could save $48,191 annually and reduce energy consumption by 67% by implementing recommended upgrades. These upgrades include solar systems, lighting retrofits, and heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) improvements.

When aiming to improve your farm’s energy efficiency, it’s important to first understand your energy usage and costs through an energy audit. This will help you identify the most effective on-farm energy efficiency improvements.

Here’s five on-farm energy efficient upgrades beef and cattle producers could consider:

1. Improve pumping and irrigation: Install variable speed drives (VSDs), replace outdated pumps, and optimise irrigation design to reduce energy consumption and improve water delivery efficiency.
2. Consider Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling (HVAC) systems: Upgrade condenser motors, ventilation fans, and heating systems. Undertaking regular maintenance and the use of VSDs can also improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
3. Upgrade lighting: Replace incandescent or older lighting systems with energy-efficient LED lights. Retrofitting infrastructure and implementing timers or motion sensors can further optimise energy use.
4. Convert to solar and battery storage: Combine solar power systems with battery storage to reduce reliance on the grid and ensure a reliable energy source. Solar systems ranging from 5–100 kW are particularly effective for beef and cattle farms.
5. Monitor energy use: Install power data monitoring systems to track energy usage in real time. This allows for better management and identification of further efficiency opportunities.

A concessional QRIDA Sustainability Loan of up to $1.3 million can help eligible beef and cattle producers fund on-farm energy efficient upgrades. 

Visit QRIDA's Sustainability Loan webpage or call QRIDA on 1800 623 946 to find out more about how you can power more and spend less with QRIDA.

Visit Queensland Ag Energy Hub's website to find out more about energy information for farmers. 

Note: The case study referred to in this article is a Queensland Ag Energy Hub case study. The Queensland Ag Energy Hub is managed by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) and was funded by the Queensland Government.