2010 oeffa - can small farms move off of the energy gridtypes of wind turbines there are two types...

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1 Can Small Farms Move Off The Energy Grid? Maurus Brown, Ph.D. Extension Specialist OSU South Centers 1864 Shyville Rd. Piketon, OH 45661 Phone: 740-289-2071, Ext. 123 Email: [email protected] 2010 OEFFA Conference http://www.25x25.org/ 25 x '25 Vision: By 2025, America's farms, forests and ranches will provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States, while continuing to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed and fiber. Is it possible to develop renewable sources of energy? Economically produce on-farm energy Reduce demand on petroleum-based energy Net user of electricity from energy grid Renewable energy - wind, solar, algae, grass, wood .. Biomass - Miscanthus, switch grass, forest by-product .. Produce biomass on marginal and degraded land Avoid direct use of feed and food type crops Research – farms, organizations, companies, universities Energy Demand Energy Storage • demand for electricity varies by time of day and year • stored energy could be used during periods of peak demand • provide an alternate source of electricity • reduce the need of using power from the electrical grid • wind and solar energy could be stored until high demand • provide a clean, consistent renewable source for farms • energy stored from wind turbines could be stored day or night • solar energy could be stored during sunny daylight hours • electrical equipment could utilize stored energy day or night Farm Energy Audits What is an audit? evaluation of energy consumption cost of energy used identify potential areas for conservation Examples : House – electricity, propane, natural gas, wood Barn – electricity, propane, wood Machine shed – propane, natural gas, electricity, wood Equipment - gas, diesel, electricity Greenhouse – natural gas, propane, electricity Ways to Save Energy Potential areas for conservation No-till or conservation farming Keep tractor tires properly inflated Conduct engine tune up - replace air and fuel filters Lubricate moving parts regularly Dust off fan blades Exchange incandescent with fluorescent bulbs Use drip irrigation systems – less water, solar powered ‘Green’ buildings – insulation for heating and cooling Efficient greenhouses

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Page 1: 2010 OEFFA - Can Small Farms Move Off Of The Energy GridTypes of Wind Turbines There are two types of wind turbine used to generate power: 1) horizontal-axis and 2) vertical-axis (Darrieus

1

Can Small Farms Move Off

The Energy Grid?

Maurus Brown, Ph.D.

Extension Specialist

OSU South Centers

1864 Shyville Rd.

Piketon, OH 45661

Phone: 740-289-2071, Ext. 123

Email: [email protected]

2010 OEFFA Conference

http://www.25x25.org/

25 x '25 Vision: By 2025, America's farms, forests and ranches will provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States,

while continuing to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed and fiber.

Is it possible to develop

renewable sources of energy?

• Economically produce on-farm energy

• Reduce demand on petroleum-based energy

• Net user of electricity from energy grid

• Renewable energy - wind, solar, algae, grass, wood ..

• Biomass - Miscanthus, switch grass, forest by-product ..

• Produce biomass on marginal and degraded land

• Avoid direct use of feed and food type crops

• Research – farms, organizations, companies, universities

Energy Demand

Energy Storage• demand for electricity varies by time of day and year• stored energy could be used during periods of peak demand• provide an alternate source of electricity • reduce the need of using power from the electrical grid • wind and solar energy could be stored until high demand• provide a clean, consistent renewable source for farms• energy stored from wind turbines could be stored day or night• solar energy could be stored during sunny daylight hours• electrical equipment could utilize stored energy day or night

Farm Energy Audits

What is an audit?

• evaluation of energy consumption

• cost of energy used

• identify potential areas for conservation Examples:

House – electricity, propane, natural gas, wood

Barn – electricity, propane, wood

Machine shed – propane, natural gas, electricity, wood

Equipment - gas, diesel, electricity

Greenhouse – natural gas, propane, electricity

Ways to Save Energy

Potential areas for conservation

• No-till or conservation farming

• Keep tractor tires properly inflated

• Conduct engine tune up - replace air and fuel filters

• Lubricate moving parts regularly

• Dust off fan blades

• Exchange incandescent with fluorescent bulbs

• Use drip irrigation systems – less water, solar powered

• ‘Green’ buildings – insulation for heating and cooling

• Efficient greenhouses

Page 2: 2010 OEFFA - Can Small Farms Move Off Of The Energy GridTypes of Wind Turbines There are two types of wind turbine used to generate power: 1) horizontal-axis and 2) vertical-axis (Darrieus

2

Evaluate Energy Use

Farm Energy Calculatorshttp://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/farm_energy/

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/technologies/eep_eccalculators.html

Source: John Miranowski, Energy Consumption in US

Agriculture. In Joe Outlaw, Keith Collins, and James

Duffield, eds., Agriculture as a Producer and Consumer of

Energy, CABI Publishing, Cambridge, MA, pp. 68-111,

2005

Resources

http://farmenergy.org/

http://farmenergy.org/tag/reap (renewable energy assessment project)

http://farmenergy.org/tag/bcap (biomass crop assistance program)

http://www.greenenergyohio.org/

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/state_energy_program/

http://www.development.ohio.gov/

http://www.development.ohio.gov/cdd/oee/ELFGrant.htm

Energy Sustainability

Wind Energy

• process of wind used to generate electricity

• Kinetic energy converted into mechanical power

• power is used to grind feed, power milking machines,

pumping water, providing lighting, and other electrical

equipment

American Wind Energy Association:

http://www.awea.org/

US Department of Energy:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/

Types of Wind TurbinesThere are two types of wind turbine used to generate power: 1) horizontal-axis

and 2) vertical-axis (Darrieus model). Horizontal-axis wind turbines commonly have 2 or 3 blades. The 3 blade turbines are positioned facing into the wind.

Ref: US Department of Energy: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/

Turbines used on wind farms and produce from 100 kilowatts - several megawatts of power for

the energy grid.

Single small turbines are used to generate electricity for homes, telecommunications

dishes, water pumping, diesel generators, batteries, and photovoltaic systems.

Types of Solar Panels – photovoltaics (PV)Monocrystalline or single crystal silicon

Multicrystalline siliconPolycrystalline siliconAmorphous silicon

BioEnergy

What is Bioenergy?

Bioenergy - any fuel that is derived from biomass which

originated from recently living organisms or their

metabolic byproducts. Biomass can include algae,

wood, grass, plant residue, manure, yard waste, etc.

Bioenergy is a renewable energy source.

Page 3: 2010 OEFFA - Can Small Farms Move Off Of The Energy GridTypes of Wind Turbines There are two types of wind turbine used to generate power: 1) horizontal-axis and 2) vertical-axis (Darrieus

3

Biomass Production

Small Farm Potential

– Focus on marginal farmland and forest land

– Produce algae, trees, grasses and legumes

– Grow renewable crops as part of farm production

– On-farm bio-digester to convert plant material into a

ready use fuel

Vern Grubinger – Stateline Farm, Shaftsbury, VT

Clean Energy Farming

Cut farming costs

Improve on-farm energy efficiency

Promote use of renewable energy in farming

http://www.sare.org/publications/energy.htm

Farms Moving Off Energy Grid

Don Bustos’ Farm• New Mexico

• Greenhouse production

• 72 varieties of brambles,

strawberries, tomatoes,

squash, peppers, and greens

• $700 (one month gas bill)

• Installed solar panels - partial

support with SARE grant

• Cut cost from $2,000 to $0

Refer: Pages 4-5

Farms Moving Off Energy Grid

Rick Kellison’s Ranch• Texas – Lubbock (panhandle)

• Cattle production (300 acre ranch)

• Dryland pasture = old world bluestem + Bermuda grass

• Permanent pasture – single sowing

• Irrigation cost reduced $13,000 annually

• Texas Tech research

Refer: Page 7

Farms Moving Off Energy Grid

Jess Alger’s Farm• Montana

• 100 ft. tower

• Generate electricity

• 1200 acre ranch

• Cost $36,850

• 5 year pay back

• = / > Class 2 winds

http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps.html#2-1

Refer: Page 9

Farms Moving Off Energy Grid Haubenschild’s Family Farm• Princeton, Minnesota

• 1000 acre dairy farm

• Methane digester

• 20,000 tons of manure per day

• 72,500 cubic feet of biogas

• 135 kW generator

• 50 tons of coal is not burned

• 90-100 tons of carbon credits

• $40,000 of fertilizer savings

Blue Spruce Dairy in Vermont is a part of the Cow Power Program.

Refer: Page 10-12

Page 4: 2010 OEFFA - Can Small Farms Move Off Of The Energy GridTypes of Wind Turbines There are two types of wind turbine used to generate power: 1) horizontal-axis and 2) vertical-axis (Darrieus

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Farms Moving Off Energy Grid

Mike Collins and Rebecca Nixon’s Farm

• Old Athens Farm, Vermont

• Produces vegetables and berries

• Use vegetable oil waste heating 3 greenhouses

• 350,000 BTU’s

• Heat 3200 sq. ft.

• $5,500 / burner installed

• $2,000 / year labor cost

• $7,000 / year saved

Refer: Page 12-13

Farms Moving Off Energy Grid

Dan West’s Farm

• Macon, Missouri

• Fruit producer - TTB approved of distilling fruit

• Produced ethanol from excess distilled fruits - 10 acre

• Used 500 gallon propane tank for 2nd still

• 4-5 gallons produced per hour: $2.00 / gallon

• $0.65 / gallon for electricity

• Closed loop solar system

• Solar electricity heats the still

Refer: Page 5

Farms Moving Off Energy Grid

Roger Rainville’s Farm

• Alburgh, Vermont

• 300 acre farm

• Biodiesel production

• Canola grown on-farm

• SARE funded

• By-product for cattle feed

• Canola meal = $200/ton

• 1.5 tons/acre yields

• Cooperative for farmers

• 2,000 gallons/year

• Remove farm from fossil fuel use

Refer: Page 18

On-farm Energy Production

What is ‘Net Metering’?

Can farmers use net metering?

Answer: Contact your electric company.

Refer to Ohio Revised Code:

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4901:1-10-28

http://www.puco.ohio.gov/

OSU South Centers

Applied research will focus on developing:

– biofeedstock production

– new markets for biomass

– new biofuels businesses

Biomass

Feedstocks

Aquatic Agronomic Forest

AlgaeCrop Residue

Grain

Grass Natural

Plantation

Urban

Business Opportunities

Local Energy Independence

Page 5: 2010 OEFFA - Can Small Farms Move Off Of The Energy GridTypes of Wind Turbines There are two types of wind turbine used to generate power: 1) horizontal-axis and 2) vertical-axis (Darrieus

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Biomass for Energy

Biomass Production

• What are the equipment needs to grow, harvest and store biomass?

• Soil type, fertility costs, weather?

• What length of growing season is required to produce biomass?

• Storage facilities for biomass produced on your farm?

• How much land will you commit to bioenergy crops?

• Use of marginal farm land?

• Woody biomass as a by-product of woodlot harvest

• What is the cost in terms of energy to plant, maintain, harvest, ship?

Miscanthus Switchgrass