Using Wind Energy on Farms

Presented by:

Michael Reese, Renewable Energy Director

West Central Research and Outreach Center

Presented at:

13th Annual Small Wind Conference

Bloomington, MN

April 10, 2017

Why renewable energy and energy efficiency for farms?

1. The technology has improved (less expensive, more reliable, produce more,

easier / safer to interconnect and maintain).

2. The systems can be practical and may provide a reasonable financial return.

3. State and Federal incentives are available to farmers.

4. Ag commodity processors and retailers may place a premium (or mandate)

low carbon footprint products.

5. Renewable energy fits the farming philosophy (Land-based, creates

independence, may improve efficiency, production of a commodity).

University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center

NH3 Pilot

Plant

1.65 MW

Vestas V82

Wind Turbine

77 kW

solar PV

Strategic Objective: Reduce fossil energy consumption in production agriculture

Outline:

1. Energy-Optimized Dairy Facilities- Design- System components- 10 kW Wind Turbines with Assembled Foundation and Self Raising Tower

2. Energy-Optimized Swine Facilities- Design- System Components- Sow Cooling System with chilled drinking water and cooling pads

3. Using Wind Energy to Produce Nitrogen Fertilizer

Energy Consumed in

Dairy Production:

1. Auditing energy consumed in conventional and organic production systems at WCROC

2. Modeling energy-optimized dairy facilities

3. Developing net-zero energy dairy parlor with thermal storage, solar thermal and PV systems, small wind turbines, and energy-efficiency upgrades

4. Life cycle assessment

5. Energy-optimized retrofit pre-designs for commercial dairies

6. New proposal for energy auditing commercial dairies, solar PV shade, and electric charging stations for utility vehicles

Dairy Overarching Goal:

Develop a net-zero energy dairy where we produce as much energy as consumed.

Reducing Milk Harvesting Energy Use• Milk Extraction

– Electrically powered vacuum removes 20.4 liters milk (11.9 organic)

• Milk Cooling

– Milk cooled from 37⁰ C (100⁰ F) to under 4⁰ C (40⁰ F)

• Sterilizing Equipment

– Facility is pressure washed with hot water

– Equipment is cleaned with 71⁰ C (160⁰ F) water

• General Cleaning and Operations

– Average of 4 loads of laundry per day

– Shower Facilities

2015 Energy Use (2900

MJ/Day)

Tallaksen et. al., 2016

New Utility Room for Dairy Parlor Facility

Thermal Storage Tank for Dairy Facility

Thermal Storage Tank for Dairy Facility

Two 10 kW

Wind Turbines

54 kW Solar PV

WCROC 10 kW Ventera Wind Turbines Installation in Winter / Spring 2017

SPECIFICATIONS:Wind Turbine—VenteraModel VT10—240 10kW at 29mph-13m/sCut—In Wind Speed: 6mph-2.7m/s, Survival Wind Speed: 130 mph-58 m/sTotal Weight of turbine and blades:

580lbs – 263kg3 blade, downwind, Diameter: 22 feet-6.7mSwept Area: 380 SF/35.25 SMRPM: 270 peak, Blade: Glass fiber engineered plastic,

injection moldedGenerator Rating: 15kva 240vac

at 250rpm, 3 phase

WCROC 10 kW Ventera Wind Turbines Base for Assembled Foundation

WCROC 10 kW Ventera Wind Turbines Base for Assembled Foundation

WCROC 10 kW Ventera Wind Turbines Installation in Winter / Spring 2017

SPECIFICATIONS:Assembled Foundation• 50,000 lbs of ballast for 70 foot

tower• More ballast required for larger

pole• Site Prep

• Removed 4 feet of soil • Added 4 feet of packed

Class 5 gravel• 25 foot diameter prepped • 15 foot diameter

foundation• Foundation is 7 feet tall

WCROC 10 kW Ventera Wind Turbines Assembled Foundation

WCROC 10 kW Ventera Wind Turbines Assembled Foundation

WCROC 10 kW Ventera Wind Turbines Self-Raising Tower

WCROC 10 kW Ventera Wind Turbines Installation in Winter 2017

WCROC 50 kW Solar PV System (TenKSolar Ground Mount)

Flat Plate Solar Thermal System (Solar Skies Ground Mount)

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

MegaJoule

s

Modeled Dairy Monthly Energy Loads and Renewable Energy Production

Total Existing Load (MJ/m) Total Predicted Load, All Electric (MJ/m) Total RE Production (MJ/m)

• Saves over 120,000 kWh/yr and eliminates natural gas usage

• Reduces Total Energy Load by 43%

• Energy, per Gallon of Milk Produced:

– 0.40 kWh, 43% Reduction

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

1,000,000

MegaJoule

sChange in Energy Loads and RE Production

Initial Energy Load (MJ/m) Final Energy Load (MJ/m) Total RE Production (MJ/m)

Modeled Dairy Results

WCROC Sow Cooling Project Design

1. Provides more effective sow cooling by:A. Utilizing chilled water circulating through

pads which the sows lay on.B. Providing chilled drinking water.

2. Sows are kept in their thermal neutral comfort zone at 65 F and therefore should have better feed efficiency and reproductive performance

3. Heat rejected by the sows will be captured and used in a fluid-based heating pad for the piglets (heat lamps providing supplementary heat to piglets are one of the largest energy consumers in conventional swine facilities).

4. System is powered by renewable electricity

Sow Cooling Pads

WCROC 27 kW Solar PV System on Swine Finishing Facility

Additional 20 kW system to be added to farrowing facility

1. Ammonia production far away from Minnesota farm fields

2. Stranded wind resource due to low transmission capacity

3. Volatile nitrogen fertilizer prices for farmers

4. High ammonia demand and robust infrastructure

5. Need to secure for domestic food production (Nitrogen is 2nd most

limiting nutrient in corn and small grain production)

6. Supports economic development ($500 million to $1 billion exported

each year out of Minnesota)

7. Helps reduce carbon footprint of grain and feed production

Wind Energy to Nitrogen Fertilizer Drivers

Renewable Fertilizer: An Elegant Idea

Wind Energy + Water + Air = Nitrogen Fertilizer

Renewable Hydrogen and Ammonia Pilot Plant

Hydrogen Storage Tanks

Nitrogen Storage Tank

Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Ammonia Production Buildings

12.5 kV to 480 V TransformerAmmonia Product Storage

(3000 Gallons)

Safety Equipment & Shower Building

Ammonia Pump and Loadout

Hydrogen Electrolyzer (Proton Energy 10 kW)

Air Compressor and Dryer N2 Gas Generation

Ammonia (NH3) Process Flow

Compressor

N2 H2

NH3 to Storage250 psi

-15°F

7.35 lb/h

Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers

S-1

930°F

820°F

180°F

Electric

Heater

-15°F

1500 psi

Chiller

Condenser

Separator

NH3

Reactor

Incoming gas

Process gasses are heated

Process gasses & NH3 are cooled

Recycle gas (N2 & H2)

50°F

2000 psi

800°F

-5°F

1500 psi

Gas (N2 & H2)

Gas

(N2 ,H2 & NH3)

Ammonia Reactor Skid

NH3 Load Out, Storage, Nurse Tanks, & Application

Ammonia Fuel Research

John Deere Diesel on Dynamometer Integrated Reactor Manifold

Displacing 50% of Diesel Fuel in Tractors

2017 Midwest Farm Energy Conference, June 13 -14, 2017

West Central Research & Outreach Center - Morris

Excellent speakers including:

Mr. Mark Greenwood, AgStar Financial

Dr. Brian Buhr, Dean – U of MN College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences

Dr. Barry Dunn, President, South Dakota State Univ.

Dr. Jay Harmon, Iowa State

Tours of innovative, farm-scale renewable energy systems

For more information or to register, go to: http://wcroc.cfans.umn.edu/mfec-registration

Renewable Energy

Staff:

1. Rob Gardner, Assistant Professor

2. Joel Tallaksen, Scientist

3. Eric Buchanan, Scientist

4. Cory Marquart, Assistant Scientist

5. Kirsten Sharpe, Junior Scientist

6. Michael Reese, Renewable Energy Program Director

Contact Information:Michael Reese

Director- Renewable Energy

West Central Research & Outreach Center

University of Minnesota

Phone: (320) 589-1711

Web: http://renewables.morris.umn.edu

reesem@umn.edu

Acknowledgements:MN Environmental and Natural Resources

Trust Fund through LCCMR

U of MN MnDRIVE and IREE

U of MN Rapid Agriculture Response Fund

State of Minnesota

Xcel Energy through a grant from the Xcel

Renewable Development Fund