Energy-smart farming
Farming today is a business. As a farmer you are also a
businessman, someone who is just as concerned about keeping operational costs
under control as you are about your fields, crops and cattle.
As a farmer, you also know that energy costs are rising
and adding significantly to operating costs. Controlling these costs means
becoming more aware of energy and the ways you can use electricity more
effectively without compromising your farm's productivity.
By making small changes to the way you use power, you
can ensure that you get the best value for your "energy rand" and also play a
part in reducing the demand for power - especially in peak periods when the
possibility of load shedding is always present.
You can make a start on effective power saving by
looking at your operation and assessing the equipment you use and the tasks
you use it for.
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Take electric motors, for example
Electric motors consume vast amounts of power. The older
your motors are, the higher the chances are that they use more electricity
than they should. You can reduce your bills significantly by replacing these
motors with new generation "high efficiency" electric motors (Eff 1). Make
sure that the motors you install can run at 3/4 of their capacity to perform
everyday jobs. Running at full load for long periods requires much more power.
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Irrigation is a cost-intensive
process
Making it less costly means that you should match the
pipe and nozzle sizes. You should also remember that pipes with a small
diameter operate at higher friction levels. More electricity is therefore
needed to increase the rate of water delivery and overcome the friction.
The nozzle sizes of sprayers should be checked on a
regular basis. If you reduce the wear and tear, you reduce water losses due to
leaking pipes. Leaking pipes mean that pumps have to deliver more water and
this increases the electricity consumption. By carrying out regular
maintenance, you benefit from reduced power costs and water savings.
Did you know that using cellphone and computer
technology could result in major savings? It's a fact that if you use these
methods to schedule irrigation, you can save up to 30% of the energy you
generally use. Making sure that water is pumped to storage dams above
irrigated areas means that you can use gravity flow, even when power is not
available.
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Cold-rooms are major users of
electricity
If you take several simple steps, however, cold losses
can be minimised and you will benefit from lower electricity costs.
You save electricity by keeping the doors to cold rooms
properly sealed. Opening doors only when required cuts down on cold air being
"leaked" into neighbouring areas. You should always also remember that
overfilled coldrooms actually have a lower cooling efficiency. Air does not
flow as easily between and under produce in overfilled rooms. This means that
it takes longer to cool down your produce and that more electricity is needed
to reach the storage temperature.
Condensers should be well ventilated to deliver the best
performance. For greatest effectiveness, compressor rooms and condensers
should be installed on the southern side of a building, where they are not
affected by direct sunlight. You should check filters and coils regularly and
see that they are always clean, and also make sure that there is enough gas in
the air conditioning plant. The proper use of air curtains will also reduce
the loss of conditioned air.
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Keeping dairy parlours energy
efficient
Saving power in the dairy parlour means rinsing the
milking machines with cold water directly after milking. A complete washing
cycle should take place outside Eskom's peak hours.
Ice bank cool tanks can be used to build the ice bank
during off-peak hours to pre-cool and cool milk during Eskom's peak hours.
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Increasing the energy efficiency
of animal feed processing plants
Animal feed processing plants usually have large numbers
of electric motors. By installing a capacitor bank you can generally improve
the electrical efficiency of a plant. A plant can be managed so that cleaning
and operations requiring low electricity can be done during peak hours, and
scheduling the actual operations outside Eskom's peak hours.
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Reducing the energy needs of animal
housing
Reducing the cost of animal housing begins with the
building itself. Proper roof insulation ensures a cool environment throughout
the year and means that less money has to be spent on additional energy to
regulate temperatures. Painting a roof silver will also reflect more heat off
the structure.
If you are building animal housing, remember that the
long walls of the building should face north and south and the short walls
should face west and east. This will help to dispel the heat that builds up
inside buildings during the day.
When using natural ventilation for animal housing,
buildings should not be wider than 12 metres for optimum utilisation of wind
cooling.
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Getting optimum performance from
dryers
If you use dryers on your farm, remember that they can
be shut down during the drying process, or can even be switched off
completely. Alternatively, heating elements can be switched off and only the
fans left running. Fans can be switched off for short periods without causing
damage to produce such as grains, oil seeds and lucerne in the dryer. Only use
the heating elements in the case of emergencies, for example during
continuously rainy days and at night during the off-peak hours. When using
heat, it is essential to recirculate the heated air to the inlet of the fan as
this will save energy and costs.
When heating elements are used, it is advisable to
insulate the ducting to minimise heat loss through the sides. It is vital that
there should be no leaks in the ducting.
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Insulation of greenhouses
When you build greenhouses, bear in mind that a
double-insulated plastic cover retains more heat and warmth in greenhouses.
Keeping air and soil temperatures constant through insulation means that less
energy has to be used to create warmth in the greenhouse environment.
Farming using alternative
energy sources
As a farmer you can take steps to utilise the waste
generated through normal farming operations to create energy. Harnessing the
power of the sun can also save energy costs - over the years, these can add up
to considerable savings and transform the way you do business.
Where considerable amounts of animal waste are present,
you could investigate the possibility of using biogas installations to
generate heat and electricity. These installations take the heat generated by
animal waste and enable it to be piped into feedlots and piggeries for use as
heating, or used for the production of cheap electricity.
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Generating power
If you wish to generate emergency power for short
periods, consider purchasing a standby generator. Running off petrol or
diesel, these generators are custom-made for various outputs. You should
consider the amount of energy you will need and seek advice from an expert
when considering an installation. Keep in mind that generators should only be
used in well-ventilated spaces and should be far enough away from buildings so
that their noise does not disturb people or animals.
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Energy from the sun, wind and water
There are a number of options available to utilise solar
power. You should investigate which of the various options available would
suit you best. Solar panels can be used to supply electricity for pumping,
charging batteries for lights and any other low wattage use. However, they can
be expensive, have a lifespan of approximately ten years and are vulnerable to
hail and theft. They also need to be cleaned regularly as dust can reduce
their efficiency.
Effective water heating can be provided through a
network of black polythene and copper piping through which water is pumped.
This can be installed on a roof and used to heat water for the house and/or
swimming pool.
Wind energy can be used to charge batteries that can
supply power to low wattage equipment in households. Where water flows
constantly from a high point, the water flow can be used to generate
electricity.
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Using dual fuel systems for efficiency
Dual fuel systems are generally used for heating air or
water in a heating system. They are frequently used for drying and intensive
animal-housing operations.
The working principle is based on using heating elements
during Eskom's off-peak hours and alternative fuel during Eskom's peak hours.
Alternative fuel options are coal, gas, diesel, oil, paraffin, wood, stalks or
any other medium that is readily available in the area.
The bottom line for energy efficiency is that we all
bear the responsibility of doing what we can to save power. As a farmer, you
have a significant role to play. You will also benefit by making your
operations more cost-effective and energy-efficient - saving money while you
help our country.
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