As part of this effort, in late 2023, Komatsu engaged leading commercial solar experts, Solar Australia, to propose a solar solution aimed at cutting costs and reducing carbon emissions at its site in Rockhampton, QLD.

After assessing the site, Solar Australia recommended a 290kW system comprising 580 panels and three inverters. The system is expected to generate approximately 544,685 kWh annually, with an estimated payback of four years.

Given the scale of the project, Solar Australia’s Tim Dixon suggested that Komatsu consider using a Smart Ease Payment Plan to finance the installation. This approach would allow the company to avoid the upfront cost entirely and instead pay for the system over time through manageable monthly repayments.

“Smart Ease provided a tailored solution to match Komatsu’s requirements. The system is designed to satisfy all day-time kw demand at the location and has resulted in a 75% reduction in the site electricity bill.” – Scott Churchill, Director of Finance & Commercial, Komatsu Mining Australia.

For the Komatsu team, an even bigger win than the considerable energy bill savings is the estimated 551 tonnes of reduced annual CO2 emissions – a terrific achievement to highlight in their first Australian climate report and another step toward meeting their global ESG targets!

Through a zero-upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan, Portsea Camp was able to invest in 21 new Rheem heat pumps, installed by energy-efficiency equipment experts Solahart Mornington.

Strategically placed around the camp, these heat pumps ensure that showers, bathrooms, laundry facilities, and the community hall can meet the needs of campers. Best of all, their energy-efficient design is expected to reduce running costs to just 30% of the previous system, leading to significant monthly savings.

With a new state-of-the-art water system pumping through the grounds, Portsea Camp can now offer its campers the great luxury of a hot shower after those icy swims in the bay!

The solution

The Gordons partnered with solar experts Solar Australia and farm-design specialists Eagle Direct to plan a system that would integrate various energy-efficiency technologies for a cost-effective solution.

After months of technical assessments, the teams proposed a comprehensive approach: a 102kW solar array, a HVAC system with over 75 industrial fans, and LED lighting throughout the shed. Together, these technologies would reduce energy costs and create a more comfortable environment for the cows – a key factor in improving milk production.

“Our specialty is in building what I call ‘cow hotels,’ where the cows have a full buffet, a comfortable bed, a cooling system and a flushing toilet. And we do all that because cows respond well to it. They love it!

“It’s all about maximum cow comfort – the more comfortable the cow is, the more milk they produce.”

– Mike Ryan, Eagle Direct

A cow’s thermal neutral zone is between 4°C and 18°C. Above this range, cows experience heat stress, which leads to reduced milk production that can take months to recover. Installing industrial fans throughout the shed was a crucial part of the design in order to maintain this ideal temperature. Meanwhile, powering the fans with solar energy would make the cost of running them feasible.

With the technical aspects sorted, the only hurdle left was to finance the project.

Solar Australia’s Tim Dixon reached out to Smart Ease to arrange a flexible payment plan that could cover the multiple equipment types being installed by two different providers.