processors who have implemented a number of these innovations.
Dairy Farm & Anaerobic Digestion
Klaesi Farm
One of the greatest expenses of running a dairy farm is the cost of energy. But the farm of Fritz and Paul Klaesi overcame this problem with an anaerobic digester that offsets energy costs by using methane from manure from the farm’s herd of 140 cows.
They bought the digester in 2004, and say they are very pleased with it. The digester generates 400 cubic metres of methane and produces 750 kilowatt hours of electrical power daily – more than enough for their farm and two houses. Other benefits include odour reduction, weed seed destruction and improved fertilizer.
The system cost $280,000 to install, with most of the labour done by the Klaesi family.
Watch Klaesi Farm Video here: http://www.farmenergyonline.com/aspx/News/NewsItem.aspx?item_id=76
Although there is no direct federal funding for farmers wishing to set up an anaerobic digester, several farms, including the Klaesis', have participated in economic and environmental assessments funded by programs and sell their energy back to the Government of Canada.
Haubenschild Farms Anaerobic Digester
This report is an update of the December 2000 report and documents the installation and 34-month performance of a heated plug-flow anaerobic digester for managing dairy manure at Haubenschild Farms. This type of digester is appropriate for treating manure with a high solids content, such as cow manure that is collected by scraping.
Haubenschild Farms is a 1000-acre, family owned and operated dairy farm near Princeton, Minnesota. In 1998 the owners were planning to increase the size of their operations, and considered the possibility of installing an anaerobic manure digester. They knew that this type of system could result in environmental benefits while offering a return on their investment.
Lighting efficiency in the dairy sector
Fluorescent lighting is the recommended main lighting source in dairy production. It is very energy efficient compared to incandescent lighting, has long life cycles and provides good light quality for livestock. Fluorescent tube lights last 20,000 hours and cost $2.00 each. Conversion from incandescent to fluorescent will reduce energy usage by up to 75 percent. Incandescent lamps may be economical where lights are turned on only occasionally and for short periods, such as in storage rooms.
An easy way to switch to a more energy efficient lighting system is to replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent (CF) lamps of equivalent light output. The compact fluorescent system can be screwed into the existing socket. No rewiring is required. The cost of CF – which has a rated life of 10,000 hours – ranges from $4 to $15 depending on the wattage.
Installing fluorescent tubes or HID systems requires rewiring and a lighting design to ensure the production area is evenly lit at the correct light intensity. It is estimated that over a two-year period, switching to a T8 fluorescent lighting system from an incandescent one could save more than $800 in a typical dairy operation. The cost to install and operate an incandescent system in a dairy barn with 30 100 W long life incandescent lamps was compared to the cost of a fluorescent single tube system. The calculations assume an energy cost of $0.0953/kWh (March 2005 rate) and that the lights are typically operating 18 hours per day. The incandescent system would cost about $450 to install and $1,918 annually to operate. Installing twenty 4-ft single tubes, T8 fluorescent fixtures would provide an increased light level. This T8 system would cost $2,400 to install and only $511/yr to operate. Installed costs are approximate only and can vary depending on job complexity, size and a number of other factors.
Over the long run, lighting in most farm operations has the potential to save energy for the farmer. Using dimmers can also reduce energy costs. By making these changes, along with other improvements, farm lighting systems will be more energy efficient, leading to improved farm productivity, increased revenue and lower energy costs.
More information about how efficient lighting can save energy and reduce energy costs is available at the OMAFRA website.
Maple Leaf Plant also uses Manure
As reported in the September 1, 2006, edition of Heads Up CIPEC, a Maple Leaf plant in Brandon, Manitoba, is using the manure from about 2.5 million hogs that it processes to generate about 4.4 million Btu an hour. The plant harvests methane from a municipal lagoon. Turkey Barns In traditional, mechanically ventilated turkey production barns the ventilation system represents about 70% of total power consumption. Energy conservation is a major consideration for ventilation system design in new turkey barn construction. Producers are choosing dual ventilation to get power savings using natural air-flow through translucent curtained barn side walls in summer and fans in winter. This design has the potential to save 80% of ventilation energy costs.
Anaerobic Digestion - Ontario Independent Meat Processors
The Ontario Independent Meat Processors conducted a feasibility study dealing with abattoir waste. There are three separate scenarios looked at:
- Anaerobic Digestion placed at the feed lot
- Anaerobic Digestion placed at an abattoir
- Anaerobic Digestion placed in a central location and serving abattoirs food processors and farms.
For more Case Studies visit RetScreen: Renewable Energy Technologies
Case Studies .
You may also find 54 Energy Savings Technologies for Agriculture, prepred by Ag energy Co-operative and Firefly Energy helpful.