Volvo Penta powers cotton irrigation
To maximize performance and fuel efficiency, Riverlea Cotton in Australia uses Volvo Penta engines to power its irrigation pumps across Queensland’s Darling Downs. The aim is to deliver the reliability and efficiency needed for continuous operation. In Queensland’s Darling Downs region in Australia, fifth-generation farmer Chris Arthur runs Riverlea Cotton, a large-scale irrigation and broadacre […]
To maximize performance and fuel efficiency, Riverlea Cotton in Australia uses Volvo Penta engines to power its irrigation pumps across Queensland’s Darling Downs. The aim is to deliver the reliability and efficiency needed for continuous operation.
In Queensland’s Darling Downs region in Australia, fifth-generation farmer Chris Arthur runs Riverlea Cotton, a large-scale irrigation and broadacre farming operation in Dalby. With generations of experience and a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability, Chris understands the importance of investing in good quality equipment. When the time came to upgrade his irrigation engines, Chris turned to Volvo Penta, known globally for heavy-duty industrial engines that combine durability with fuel efficiency.
In 2020, Chris approached Oceania Power, Volvo Penta’s Oceania dealer, with a challenge. His Valley Irrigation system, supplied by Warrego Water, came standard with a proposed engine option. While effective, Chris was searching for something more efficient, durable and reliable, an engine that could meet the demanding conditions of continuous irrigation operation.
As a result Volvo Penta, Oceania Power, and Warrego Water delivered a tailored solution built around a Volvo Penta industrial engine.
The results were:
- Up to 10% fuel savings compared with the originally proposed engine
- Increased reliability in continuous-use irrigation environments
- Seamless integration into the existing system
- Responsive local support
The initial installation performed well and Riverlea Cotton commissioned a second Volvo Penta-powered unit just two years later. Both engines now run around the clock during irrigation season, providing dependable power and measurable fuel efficiency.
“Fuel savings and reliability matter when you’re running irrigation 24/7,” explains Chris. “Volvo Penta delivered both, and the support from Oceania Power and Brackens is excellent.”
“At Volvo Penta, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do,” says Nicolas Hansford, Volvo Penta Oceania business development manager. “Working alongside Oceania Power, Warrego Water, and Riverlea Cotton allowed us to deliver a solution suited to Chris’ operation. It’s collaborations like these that drive long-term success for our customers.”
