A big battery "made of lots of little batteries" and housed in a 40-foot shipping container may make Fletcher International Exports a trail blazer in energy innovation in its sector.
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Fletcher International Exports, Magnis Energy Technologies and the University of Newcastle are joining forces to introduce the new technology which is intended to store and deliver much cheaper and cleaner forms of energy.
They signed a memorandum of understanding at Regional Development Australia Orana's State of the Region event to run the first in a series of pilot projects investigating agricultural energy solutions.
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Magnis Energy Technologies strategic manager batteries, Jack Robertson, said the new technology would advance not only Mr Fletcher's enterprise in Dubbo "but the whole meat processing sector".
He said the meat processing industry was "very intensive, complicated, high pressure, 24/7 and incredibly important" to regional economies, employment and export markets.
"So when you are considering trying to transition to more sustainable energy and make cost savings with new energy forms, it's a very difficult proposition," Mr Robertson said.
"Industry is very cautious. They don't want to disrupt their activities."
Industry is very cautious. They don't want to disrupt their activities.
- Magnis Energy Technologies strategic manager batteries, Jack Robertson
Managing director of Fletcher International Exports, Roger Fletcher OAM, has taken the plunge after being told his business will not suffer.
"Roger says we've all got a responsibility to be more efficient with energy and that's what this project is about," Mr Robertson said.
The shipping container housing the big battery with a capacity of 2.2 megawatt hours is set to be installed in the middle of 2021.
Mr Robertson said a "slow and steady" approach would apply.
"To start with, because this is new technology for the meat processing sector, we're going to just recharge the battery off the grid," he said.
"Then over time we will perhaps start to connect in some solar power, maybe. Going much further, maybe there will be other forms of energy innovation we can use.
"The most important thing is to make sure the concept works to be able to demonstrate to industry, not just meat processing but all intensive energy industries, why a big battery like this is the pathway to transitioning to very much cheaper and cleaner forms of energy."
Funding of up to $5 million for the 18-month trial is being sought from the state and federal governments.
