Farm-energy project change

Aconcept to explore transformational on-farm ‘green’ hydrogen generation, storage and use at Kalkee has become a standalone Wimmera project.

Thomas Blair’s Energy Independent Farming Pty Ltd, EIF, has consolidated within multi-faceted agricultural family business Blairfarms, which will continue to pursue emerging renewable-energy capture and storage technology.

EIF, which announced the proposal and pursued funding opportunities in mid-2021, had previously involved an interstate partner.

Mr Blair said there had been a need for project management reassessment, streamlining and direction, which had ‘for the moment’ stalled development. But he remained enthusiastic and optimistic in pushing forward with plans.

“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done and some challenges with emerging technologies, but that’s the nature of research and development,” he said.

“Pursuing this type of energy project is the way of the future and there is no reason why we in the Wimmera can’t be at the forefront of this development, particularly when it involves the agricultural industry.

“We’ve had a bit a hiccup in a need to establish the best management model but we’re still very keen and looking for the best way forward.

“We don’t want to promise too much, but we do want to continue exploring this project.

“The priority for the moment has shifted to a couple of other major business projects and the plan is to start redeveloping the proposal later this year so it can evolve in an organic way.”

A redirection in planning involves concentrating on establishing an energy-generation prototype to provide an example of how farms and farm business could become energy independent.

Mr Blair said the concept was about the region exploring the possibilities of emerging technologies that could apply generally to broadacre farming.

“The project has scope to achieve many outcomes but the primary focus is establishing a way that farmers can gain energy independence,” he said.

The project will concentrate on establishing an energy-generating farm prototype on the site of Blair’s PB Seeds processing centre on Blue Ribbon Road, north of Horsham.

A process involves using solar andor wind energy to produce ‘green’ hydrogen, a renewable alternative to diesel, via on-farm electrolysis.

“That’s the ultimate goal – to create a model, prototype or blueprint that can replace farm and agricultural-industry reliance on diesel,” Mr Blair said.

He said despite the concept having already undergone almost two years of scrutiny, there was a pressing need for considerably more planning.

“In some areas we will need to pretty much start again, but the foundations are there,” he said.