Rural
20 July, 2026
Electric vehicle becomes important farm asset
A Southern Tablelands farmer will be one of the speakers at this year’s National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo.
A Southern Tablelands farmer will be one of the speakers at this year’s National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo.
The conference is being held in Orange on August 12 and will focus on how Australian producers can electrify operations, reduce emissions – and still make some money on the side.
Francis Clarke runs around 50 Angus breeding cattle near Tarago and was an early adopter of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
He wasn't just looking for a new way to get around - he was exploring how a vehicle battery could become an integral part of a farm's energy system and become an additional income stream.
Mr Clarke has spent more than two years using a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle to store solar energy and supply power back to his home and - when market conditions are favourable - export electricity to the grid.
"Most people think of an electric vehicle as just transport, but the battery can do much more than that,” Mr Clarke said.
"The next major opportunity for agriculture will come as larger electric machinery enters the market.
“I don't think it will be long before large electric tractors become available.
“The interesting question is how farmers use those batteries when the tractor isn't working.
"For farmers considering electrifying vehicles and equipment, it's worth thinking beyond transport.
“The battery itself can become an important farm asset."
Producers are being urged to look at on-farm renewables to bolster energy security given the current fuel and fertiliser crisis.
“The conference is an important way to showcase farmers who are already using renewable energy to cut costs, improve efficiency and create new income streams,” conference founder Karin Stark said.
“Australia currently imports 90 percent of our refined fuels and we’ve seen how vulnerable agriculture is to global supply shocks.
“We’ve ensured this year's program includes ways farmers can be more self-sufficient so the conference covers topics ranging from battery storage and solar-powered irrigation to electric farm vehicles, biofuels and on-farm fertiliser production.”
For more information, or to register, visit the conference website at www.renewablesinagconference.com.au
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