"We do it with our grass, so why not do it with solar panels."
Mrs Smith wants farmers and growers considering installing a solar energy system in their business to contact a government agency for impartial advice and possibly a subsidy to buy a new system.
Last week, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) opened applications for farmers and growers to take part in a programme involving the installation of solar and battery systems.
The government agency would provide funding support of up to 40% for inverters and batteries, and up to 20% for solar panels, capped at $200,000 per farm, EECA Insights, data and communication manager Megan Hurnard said.
The farms involved would become case studies to shape best-practice advice for the sector.
"By showcasing real-world results across different farming systems, this programme will give the sector confidence about what solar and battery technology can deliver."
Systems in the five-year programme must be installed by June 30 next year.
EECA recently launched hotline 0800 300 643 to help farmers determine if solar was right for their farm and what the potential return might be, get neutral advice to compare quotes and help work through any issues around consenting.
Mrs Smith spoke about her on-farm solar energy systems at the Beef + Lamb field day Farming in the Future in South Canterbury this month.
A catalyst for installing the solar energy system in January this year was previously paying 28 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh) for power on her 700ha sheep, beef and deer property Willowglen Farms in Ranfurly.
After finding there were a lack of suppliers of integrated agricultural energy solution in the market at the time, she thought "bugger it, I’ll do it myself".
She co-founded company Solayer, which provides energy solutions including solar, wind and micro-hydro.
A solar energy solution provided "the best bang for buck" of the three options, she said.
The three key goals for installing a solar energy system were to reduce farm working expenses, create an additional revenue stream and ensure farm business resilience.
A design of an optimal solar system depended on the goals of a farmer.
On Willowglen Farm, the biggest electricity user was a 30kW fixed-speed pump running k-line irrigation "24/7" from a 50 kilovolt-amperes transformer between November and April.
Irrigation systems were a "really good fit" for a solar system as they used a lot of electricity at times when it was sunniest.
When an irrigation system was not being used, such as winter, a power company would pay for surplus power exported back to the grid.
Anyone could access 14c/kWh export price.
On Willowglen Farms, she installed a 54.54kW solar array with a 50kW inverter, connected to the grid with a low voltage system with no battery.
The two arrays, 32m long and 3.6m wide, includes 108 solar panels.
Sheep could graze under the arrays, which stand 3.5m high at the back and 1.7m high at the front.
A $19,000 power bill was reduced to $14,000 by a $5000 export credit.
"We purchase our power for a fixed price and we export our power on the spot market."
Reasons Willowglen Farms needs to buy power from the grid includes running the irrigation pump at night.
The return on investment of the solar system was 18.5% and had a payback period of five years and five months.
Power generated on the farm cost 6c/kWh over the 25 year life expectancy of the system .
"We were previously paying 28 cents for that power."
Farmers had potential to save money by replacing diesel machinery, which could cost 10 times more than an electric equivalent.
Electric machinery on Willowglen Farms includes a hybrid BYD shark ute, which was proven to be up for New Zealand farming conditions and had a range of 70km a day.
She believed most farmers could generate electricity more cheaply than what they paid for it now.
Some farmers taking power from the grid were paying up to 35c/kWh.
Power bills were bolstered by the cost to move electricity around the grid.
Farmers wanting an energy solution should get multiple quotes from solar companies.
The solar energy system market was very competitive and prices varied greatly, she said.
A straightforward system install should cost no more than $1300 per kilowatt.
If a system required a battery, add another $1000/kWh of storage.
Solar companies would ask a customer for an authority to ask their energy retailer for their consumption data.
The authority allows a solar company to provide an energy solution which matched a client’s usage.
Solar companies being given previous power bills would help create accurate financial modelling to give to a bank manager seeking return-on-investment information.
A solar system generally could cost up to 8c/kWh including finance.
Farmers could get involved in the install process to save costs, such as labour.
"Don’t be afraid to get involved and it should reduce the cost of your install."
