WA’s biggest dairy farm Peninsula Downs to save $40k per year after transitioning to a hybrid energy system

Western Australia’s biggest family-owned dairy farm is taking its future off-grid, and it’s already paying off. Peninsula Downs is transitioning to a hybrid solar and battery system, set to save the dairy $40,000 a year in power costs. The hybrid diesel replacement system was unveiled at an event at the Scott River East farm on Friday, with delegates such as Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis and shadow energy Minister Steve Thomas in attendance. Australian Flow Batteries partnered with Peninsula Downs owners Ross and Karen Woodhouse to deliver the Sunflex Solar system, which Mr Woodhouse said would save the dairy $2000 a week in dieseline and power saving costs of about $40,000 a year. Mr Woodhouse said the system was 30 years in the making. “We’ve spent $30 million to try and build a business that was insulated from climate, from importing feed and basically feeding the animals without adding additional cost,” he said. “Two years ago, we were confronted with unbelievable power hikes in price — in December 2024 our power cost for the whole farm was $47,000 and in December 2025 our power cost was $97,000 — so we’ve had a 47 per hike in power charges. “We’ve got an irrigation system that can grow grass, but we can no longer use it.” The farm had been burning through about 2800 litres of dieseline a week to keep generators running and, since installing the solar system, dieseline use has dropped to about 700 litres weekly. Mr Woodhouse said the hybrid system also allowed the farm to have more reliable power. “Last year on the grid, we were disconnected 21 times — it’s about $185 an hour for every hour that our pivot is down,” he said. “So, it costs us around $600 an hour for every hour that the grid isn’t performing and this year, we’re off to a flying start. “We’ve been down seven times so far and around about 60 hours.” The environmental dividend is significant too with the system expected to cut about 80 tonnes of carbon emissions a year. “I’m quite fanatical about the impact of climate change directly in our business, because we have to feed animals on a daily basis, and we’ve seen reduced rainfall, reduced recharge of our groundwater,” Mr Woodhouse said. “We’re very passionate about renewables, and how can we help our carbon footprint, so this particular system will save around 80 tons of carbon per annum, so it’s huge.” Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said the model could also suit other WA businesses. “We’re seeing more and more businesses set up these standalone power supplies, with these fantastic solar panels and batteries, this is quite innovative in that the solar panels can be packed up in 15-minutes,” she said. “In the event of a weather event, it’s portable. The fact that it is portable helps with development applications.” Smart Energy Council WA general manager Charlie Caruso said the system was a “lift and shift” example for all regional Australians. “Solar, supported by batteries, provides energy security, financial security and environmental security, and we see that in action here today,” he said. “For decades, regional Australia has led the uptake of solar and batteries and systems like these prove that farmers can use them in their commercial applications as well. “This system from AFB and Sunflex is revolutionary for farmers. It’s as easy as a diesel generator, but doesn’t cost you a cent in fuel, because the sun doesn’t send you a bill.”