Rising power bills, volatile diesel prices and unreliable supply are pushing regional businesses to look for better ways to meet their energy needs.
A new practical guide from RE-Alliance and Farmers for Climate Action will help farmers and other rural and regional small-business owners assess electrification options including solar, batteries, electric machinery, heating, stand-alone power systems, microgrids and energy trading.
Report co-author RE-Alliance Board Director Karin Stark said the guide will help regional business owners make informed energy choices:
“Across regional Australia, farms and small businesses are already finding ways to cut energy costs, reduce their exposure to diesel prices and gain more control over their power supply,” Stark said.
“But there is no single solution that will work for every business or every region. For some businesses, the best first step might be solar or an electric pump. For others, it could be battery storage, electric machinery or a stand-alone power system.
“This guide cuts through the complexity. It explains the main options in plain English, where they work best, their benefits and limitations, and the questions people should ask before investing.
“Australian regional businesses have always moved with the times. Now the times are electric.”
The guide comes as the federal government prepares to expand the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme from 100 kW to 1 MW from 1 October 2026, subject to the necessary regulations being in place. The change is expected to reduce the upfront cost of eligible mid-sized solar installations by around 20 per cent.
“The federal government’s decision to extend solar support to larger systems is welcome and could make solar stack up for many more farms and regional businesses,” Stark said.
Farmers for Climate Action CEO Verity Morgan-Schmidt said farmers were interested in technology that could make their businesses more efficient, resilient and competitive.
“On a farm, every piece of equipment has to earn its keep. Electrification should be no different,” Morgan-Schmidt said.
“As machinery, vehicles and energy systems change, farmers need practical information to decide which technologies can genuinely improve their operations. This guide will help farmers weigh up the costs, benefits and limitations, and take advantage of new opportunities as more of the economy moves to electricity.”
