Electric Cherries with a Negative Power Bill

Our Path to a Negative Power Bill

At Forest Lodge Orchard, we're breaking new ground in sustainable farming and energy innovation. This year, our goal is to achieve a negative power bill, and we’re well on our way to making that a reality. By combining solar power generation, battery storage, and an innovative energy deal with our local energy distributor, Aurora, we’re transforming our orchard into a mini power plant. Here’s how we’re doing it.

Solar & Batteries - How We’re Making It Happen

At Forest Lodge Orchard, our cutting-edge solar and battery setup is transforming how we manage energy. We’ve recently upgraded to 300-volt batteries, a significant leap from our original 48-volt system. This upgrade means far less power loss, more efficient energy storage, and the ability to scale up our operations as we continue growing. Our 100-kilowatt solar array, which consists of 200 panels, harnesses Central Otago’s abundant sunshine to generate electricity. The installation was surprisingly cost-effective, coming in at around $100,000, thanks to smart resource management and local contractors.

The real game-changer, though, is how we manage this power. With the Panasonic Sun Volt Enterprise controller built in with Mike’s previous software, we can monitor the wholesale power market in real-time. When prices are low, we buy electricity and store it in our high-voltage batteries. When prices spike—like during recent grid emergencies—we sell power back at peak rates. By switching to fully electric operations, we’re further cutting costs and generating surplus power that we can sell back to the grid. This smart energy trading is helping us achieve our ambitious goal of a negative -$10,000 power bill.

Our Partnership with Aurora Energy

Aurora Energy, our local energy distributor (EDB) has played a crucial role in getting us on the road towards our negative energy bill. We’ve signed an exciting deal with them, which allows us to export power back to their grid during times of congestion. Essentially, when their network is stretched during peak periods, we step in to help by feeding surplus power back to the grid. Aurora pays us for this, allowing us to profit from both the wholesale market price of electricity, and we’re being rewarded for supporting the stability of local energy infrastructure.

New Revenue Streams for Farmers

As we continue to explore new opportunities in the energy market, we’re proving that sustainable practices don’t just benefit the environment—they can also create new revenue streams for farmers. Our goal of a negative $10,000 power bill is within reach, and we’re excited to share our journey with other farmers and businesses looking to make the switch to renewable energy.

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