#$%^&*AU2017100445A420170525.pdf#####10 ABSTRACT Disclosed is a method for optimising energy usage in an irrigation system comprising the steps of: a) installing irrigation apparatus which is powered from a solar panel array 5 and is also adapted to receive and use energy from at least one other source； b) obtaining soil moisture data readings and/or metrological data from an area which is to be irrigated by the irrigation apparatus and sending this data to a computer system； 10 c) the computer system upon receiving the data from step b) processes this data to generate a predication of the future amount of water the irrigation apparatus needs to supply to the soil and the amount of energy which is required for the irrigation apparatus to provide this； and d) the computer system then calculates the most cost effective use of 15 energy from the solar array and from the at least one other source and the computer system using the predictive data generated from step c) manages the operation and run times of the irrigation apparatus and directs the most cost effective energy from the array and the at least one other source to the irrigation apparatus when it is in use. 20Figure 1 Obtaining information regarding an area which is going to be irrigated and information regarding irrigation apparatus which is going to be installed using this information to install irrigation apparatus which is powered from a solar panel array and is also adapted to receive and use energy from at least one other source obtaining soil moisture data readings and/or metrological data from the area which is going to be irrigated and sending this data to a computer system 1the computer system receiving this soil moisture and/or metrological data and then processing this data to generate a predict ion regarding the future amount of water the irrigation apparatus needs to supply to the soil and the amount of energy which is required for
