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Case Study
Agright Meriki
IN SUMMARY:
Australia's Largest Off-Grid Poultry Farm
They don't come much bigger than this.
Smart Commercial Solar is proud to announce the completion of Australia’s largest off-grid poultry farm project for our valued customer, Agright.
This landmark project, located near Griffith, NSW, sets a new standard for renewable energy in agriculture and showcases our commitment to innovative and sustainable energy solutions. Agright, a leading developer of high-quality agricultural infrastructure with in-house design and construction capabilities, operates poultry farms under secure long-term contracts with leading poultry processors. Their facilities are market-leading, incorporating best practices in animal welfare and sustainability.
Annual energy consumption 411k MWh
Annual CO2 reduction of 1698.3t
Annual battery consumed 930.5 MWh
Annual solar consumed 1575.4 MWh
THE SOLUTION
To address these challenges, Smart Commercial Solar designed and constructed a comprehensive off-grid energy system tailored to Agright's unique needs. Our solution included:
- 3.98 MW ground-mounted solar panels
- 3.4 MVA PV inverter
- 4.4 MWh of battery storage
- 3.45 MVA of battery inverter
- 11kV private distribution network covering 4.2km
- 2 MVA synchronous generator
- 6 diesel generators for backup
This advanced system powers a small village of six staff houses, 40 large chicken barns, and associated buildings, ensuring reliable and sustainable energy for Agright's operations. The high-voltage microgrid provides robust and resilient energy infrastructure capable of supporting the extensive energy needs of the farm.
THE RESULTS
The completion of this project marks a significant achievement for both Smart Commercial Solar and Agright. The Meriki farm, now running almost entirely on renewable energy, produces among the lowest emissions for meat protein in Australia. This project not only meets Agright's ESG targets but also aligns with their financial objectives. The system had up to 40 staff working on the project onsite at any given time, demonstrating the scale and complexity of the installation.
Despite the challenges posed by the rural location and the operational requirements of a working broiler chicken farm, the project was completed successfully. Early results indicate that the system's performance is in line with predictions, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of large-scale off-grid renewable energy solutions. This success underscores the potential of renewable energy to transform remote and rural operations, paving the way for future advancements in the industry.
"Sustainability is at the forefront of our business model. Chicken is already the meat protein with the lowest carbon footprint, but we are continually looking for ways to reduce this footprint further. The next phase, which we will be working on with Smart, is to actively pursue options to reduce emissions related to heating our barns."
Daniel Bryant
Owner of Agright
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