Alternative energy sources for cotton production in Australia

Agriculture requires energy as an important input. Within highly mechanised agricultural productions systems such as the Australian cotton industry, energy inputs represent a significant cost to growers. In this paper, current uses of alternative energies, grower interest and perceptions of alternative energies and obstacles and opportunities are surveyed. The potential of traditional and alternative energy supply for agriculture and cotton production in Australia is also evaluated. It is found that in the cotton growing regions of Australia, the preferred alternative energy sources may be solar or bioenergy, rather than wind energy. The potential of biofuels and bioenergy production from cotton by-products such as cotton trashes and cotton seed oil is also examined