The Energy Transition Show - Electric Farming in New Zealand

This podcast episode features an interview with Mike Casey, a Kiwi tech entrepreneur turned cherry farmer. He started by gradually converting his farm to run on electricity, much of which is generated on site. In terms of electric machinery he’s a true early adopter, importing New Zealand’s first electric tractor, and insists that once you’ve used an electric tractor or chainsaw there is no going back.

But the real inspiration in this story is how Casey has used his own experience as a springboard to advocate for changes to the energy system in New Zealand, primarily to reduce energy costs for the consumer and improve energy security in a country that produces no fossil fuels. Retail electricity prices in NZ are currently rising while the cost of solar generation is falling. Casey points out that meeting increasing demand for power using the existing model will require new ‘poles and wires’ at great expense, in contrast to locally generated solar power and batteries.

A compelling listen for anyone interested in what an energy transition could really look like.  

https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-256-electric-farming-in-new-zealand/