30/03/2026
Electrification on farm is accelerating, but farmers are rightly asking questions.
At Southern Field Days in Waimumu, our team spoke with dozens of farmers about solar, battery storage, and energy resilience. One thing was clear: rising power prices are driving serious interest in solar, but resilience is just as important.
Once solar is installed, the capital cost is fixed and so is the cost of generating that power over the life of the system. In a world of rising electricity prices, that certainty matters.
Following recent wind events across Southland and Otago that left farms without power, conversations have shifted from “Should we?” to “How do we protect ourselves?” Generators are selling out across the country, giving a clear signal that resilience is now front of mind.
At Ernest, we believe solar + battery storage offers a smarter long term solution for energy independence without noise or fuel logistics. And it provides farms with a system that’s prepared for electrification, from bikes and utes, to pumps and irrigation.
