Santiago Ramirez set up an egg farm in 2009 powered entirely by solar energy and hasn’t looked back since.
Overlooking the scenery of the Grampians, the farm is located in Navarre — a Victorian country town near Stawell — and has been fully self-sufficient since the solar system was installed.
The farm spans 200 acres and houses 7,500 free range chickens that produce around 2.2 million eggs per year.
To support the farm, an 18x200 watt panel solar system was installed along with a bank of batteries that holds 72 kilowatts.
Ramirez says there were several factors that motivated him to opt for solar power. He wanted something that could cater to the welfare of the animals and sustainable practices.
Using solar energy to power the farm offered the chance to be innovative and has given the farm a competitive edge in how they can market themselves.
Mostly, Ramirez says the environmental factor was a big motivation for choosing solar.
"It’s also about doing your part for the environment on a daily basis," he says.
