Dual-Fuel Trials Pave the Way for Low-Carbon Agriculture

Reducing agricultural emissions is one of the toughest challenges on the path to net zero. Diesel-powered irrigation pumps, essential to many farm operations, are a key part of the problem.

Rising fuel prices and supply pressures add further complications, making the search for alternatives increasingly urgent.

A pilot project supported by the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub is tackling this issue by bringing together industry and research partners to test a practical approach to minimising diesel use on farms.

Funded through the Hub’s Powerfuels Including Hydrogen Network, the trial aims to demonstrate how low-carbon hydrogen can be used alongside diesel, reducing reliance on fossil fuels without affecting productivity.

Retrofitting, not replacing

The project, led by Sundown Pastoral Co in partnership with Hiringa Energy and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), focuses on modifying existing farm systems rather than replacing them.

This approach is particularly important in agriculture, where capital investment cycles are long and equipment is built to last.

At Sundown’s Keytah cotton operation near Moree, two 350-horsepower irrigation pumps were fitted with dual-fuel conversion kits from Change Fuel Technologies, allowing them to run on a blend of diesel and hydrogen.

The pumps were then tested under a range of operating conditions, with detailed data collected on fuel use, emissions, reliability, safety and cost.

As DPIRD Research Scientist and Senior Project Lead Ian Marang explained: “It’s about demonstrating the potential to reduce diesel use and showing that existing infrastructure, with minor modifications, can cut our carbon footprint while maintaining productivity.”

Evidence in action

While dual-fuel technology is not new, applying it at this scale in Australian agriculture is a significant step forward.

Demonstration at commercial scale is essential for hydrogen to gain traction: farmers need to see that it works in the environments they face on their own farms.

Sundown uses a large volume of diesel each year, much of it for irrigation pumping, making it an ideal setting to explore low-carbon solutions.

According to Ian, early results are encouraging.

“We’re still looking at the data, but so far it appears the trials have been successful,” he said.

Both dual-fuel pumps responded positively to the use of hydrogen and achieved around 50 percent hydrogen displacement of diesel during normal operation, exceeding the initial target of 30 to 40 percent.

The tests have shown the solution is viable under real-world conditions and identified key measures to further increase diesel displacement.

“This is about providing the evidence that it works in this context,” Ian said. “While some companies can already supply these systems, larger operators often lack the data they need to take that next step.”

An irrigation pump retrofitted for on-farm trials at Sundown’s Keytah property.

Beyond the pump

The implications of the trial extend beyond irrigation pumps. If successful, the dual-fuel approach could be adapted to a wide range of farm equipment.

“It’s an engine, so there’s no reason you couldn’t apply this to different operations,” Ian said.

For industry partner Hiringa, the project is part of a broader strategy to demonstrate how renewable hydrogen can be both technically viable and commercially practical.

“This is the first step along that journey, with the potential to significantly reduce on-farm production emissions,” Commercial and Business Development Lead Jack Rickers explained.

“It’s exciting to be among the world’s first movers and add value to Australian products.”

The trial also relates to Hiringa’s Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) initiative, currently under development at Sundown’s Keytah property.

This facility will produce renewable hydrogen and ammonia, creating a local supply chain for low-carbon fuel and fertiliser. GEGHA is designed to be scaled across NSW agricultural regions, giving farmers secure supply and price stability.

From testing to take-up

The next phase of the project will focus on analysing the data and translating the findings into practical insights for farmers.

“People are very reluctant to try new things in the current climate,” Ian said. “Our main objective now is to make this evidence visible and accessible to the broader farming community.”

DPIRD will share results through case studies, fact sheets and on-farm presentations, helping build awareness and confidence across the sector.

“It’s really important that we continue experimenting, but we also need to be demonstrating that research in the real world,” he said.

“If we can find ways to showcase the outcomes of this project and encourage broader uptake of these technologies, that would be a win.”

Powering progress

The project highlights the importance of collaboration across industry, government and research organisations, and the critical role of targeted funding.

“The Hub funding was essential to get this over the line,” Ian said. “It allowed Sundown to engage Hiringa and bring in the expertise needed to actually deliver the trial.”

Ultimately, initiatives like this are about more than a single technology. They represent a shift towards more resilient, efficient and sustainable farming practices.

According to Jack: “The work is happening, the technology is available and the long-awaited benefits of green hydrogen as a decarbonisation tool are becoming a reality.”

With support from programs like Innovate P2X, that reality is being delivered.

Innovate P2X accelerates technology commercialisation by connecting NSW small and medium enterprises, startups and university spinouts with research expertise and infrastructure. By supporting projects like this, the program helps bridge the gap between concept and real-world deployment while contributing to NSW’s net zero goals.

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