30/09/2026
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Yesterday we heard from Jacob from Excel Power about some impressive solar and automation projects, including a project in Thargomindah where solar is being used to power a bore and remote monitoring is helping reduce the need for regular physical inspections. The system can be monitored remotely, even from a long way away, making a big difference on a large property.
The farm currently requires around 27km of travel every day just to inspect equipment. With Starlink providing reliable connectivity across the property and Farmbot monitoring the bore pumps and other farm equipment, remote monitoring and automation can significantly reduce those trips, saving fuel, travel time and labour while still keeping a close eye on the equipment.
It’s a great example of how technology, solar and automation can work together to make farming more efficient and reduce the ongoing workload. The system is expected to pay for itself in approximately three years, with the ongoing savings of $37000 of diesel per year and benefits continuing well beyond that.