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