Salads and fresh vegetable producer Tripod Farmers is a fourth-generation family enterprise based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. In its 37 years of operation, the farm has earned a strong reputation for its focus on high-quality produce and its embrace of innovative methods that drive both efficiency and sustainability.
In 2024, Tripod Farmers became one of the first farms in Australia to adopt the AI-powered LaserWeeder, a groundbreaking technology that uses artificial intelligence to differentiate weeds from crops and eliminate them. The result is minimal need for herbicides and a significant sustainability win. In 2025, the farm made another major step forward by investing in two commercial solar systems at its Bacchus Marsh site.
Tripod Farmers engaged Choice Energy to design and install the systems.
Project snapshot
Channel Partner: Choice Energy
Industry: Vegetable Growers
Equipment:
System 1 – 450kW solar system comprised of 982x Trina Solar panels & 4x Fronius inverters
System 2 – 245.50kW solar system comprised of 491x Trina Solar panels & 2x Fronius inverters
Term: 60 months
The first is a 450kW solar array comprising 982 Trina Solar panels and four Fronius inverters. The second is a 245.50kW system featuring 491 Trina Solar panels and two Fronius inverters. Together, the installations represent a significant renewable-energy investment that will help power the farm’s operations, reduce energy bills and lower carbon emissions.
For Tripod Farmers, cutting carbon does not just align with its values – it also makes strong business sense. The farm supplies produce across Australia to independent grocers, restaurants and major supermarkets such as Coles. With mandatory climate reporting now in place for large companies like Coles, being a low-emissions supplier provides a clear advantage by helping those retailers reduce and report their Scope 3 emissions.
To make the transition to solar more accessible, the project was funded through a Smart Ease Payment Plan arranged by Choice Energy. The 60-month plan allowed Tripod Farmers to install both systems for $0 upfront, and use energy-bill savings generated by the solar systems to help cover repayments over time.
This approach meant the farm could move ahead with a large-scale sustainability project while preserving capital for other areas of the business.
And the investment has already gained recognition. Tripod Farmers was acknowledged for its sustainability efforts with an award at the The Weekly Times Coles 2025 Farmer of the Year Awards, further reinforcing its reputation as an innovative and forward-thinking Australian farming business.
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