Background
For a large-scale orchard in regional Australia, reliable power isn't just an operational requirement - it's the difference between a successful harvest and significant crop loss.
The orchard requires substantial amounts of energy for irrigation, and the proposed network connection is not sufficient to meet peak demand. During pre-harvest periods in particular, any interruption in irrigation can directly result in loss of crop.
To address this, a purpose-built microgrid has been developed, combining solar PV, battery energy storage and diesel generation to supplement grid supply. A Microgrid Control Energy Management System is required to coordinate these resources and ensure reliable operation. There is no export licence for the site, so the microgrid is a fully contained system.
SAGE Automation proposed an integrated Energy Management System (EMS) and SCADA solution, drawing on its proven experience in industrial energy systems, multi-vendor integration and long-lifecycle control platforms.
The key challenge is balancing power supply to critical irrigation schedules while operating within grid capacity limits. The farm's pumping infrastructure is essential to crop health and production continuity, making power reliability a core business requirement.
The microgrid must manage:
SAGE's solution provides a centralised control and monitoring platform for the microgrid. The system is designed to coordinate distributed energy resources, manage electrical assets and provide operators with real-time visibility across the entire site.
Key components include:
The EMS manages energy dispatch, battery charge and discharge, diesel generator start/stop, grid import and export limits, and islanded operation. The SCADA system provides secure operator control, alarm management and high-resolution event logging.
In grid-connected mode, the EMS optimises energy flows between the grid, solar PV, BESS and diesel generators while limiting grid import to agreed levels.
In islanded mode, the system maintains voltage, frequency and load balance using on-site generation and storage. It also supports load shedding, restoration and black-start procedures.
The BESS can be used for backup support, frequency response, peak shaving and diesel runtime reduction. The system is expected to significantly reduce diesel consumption during peak irrigation periods, increasing the proportion of load served by renewable generation.
The project is planned in two phases to ensure uninterrupted power availability to the orchard.
Phase 1 includes the Energy Park, BESS, solar PV, pumping stations, generator substations and EMS/SCADA - all commissioned so the site can operate in islanded mode.
Phase 2 covers the network connection, allowing for complete microgrid system commissioning to be undertaken.
This phased approach supports immediate irrigation requirements while enabling full microgrid capability to be completed with minimal interruption to the day-to-day workings of the orchard.
The Microgrid Control EMS delivers several strategic benefits:
SAGE's delivery approach actively addresses several critical integration factors, including:
This Microgrid Control EMS is a strategic solution to a grid-constrained agricultural energy challenge. By coordinating solar, BESS, diesel generation and grid supply, the system enables reliable power for irrigation while improving energy efficiency and resilience.
SAGE Automation's EMS and SCADA solution provides the control architecture needed to operate the microgrid safely, efficiently and flexibly over its long-term operating life.
As grid constraints and energy costs continue to challenge regional industries, this project demonstrates how intelligent microgrid control can turn an energy limitation into a long-term operational advantage.