Clean Energy Farming

Purdue Launches New Energy Site

Clean Energy Farmer — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:57:47 +0000

Purdue University Extension has powered up a Web site on cleaner, greener energy.

The Renewable Energy site offers an array of resources on environmentally friendly energy sources and conservation. The Web site visitors can learn about installing wind turbines and solar panels, ethanol production and cutting energy costs, among other topics, said Klein Ileleji, a Purdue Extension agricultural engineer.

New Wind-Power Irrigation Tool from Montana State

Clean Energy Farmer — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:58:08 +0000

Producers considering wind energy to offset irrigation system energy expenses have a new tool to help them analyze their alternatives.Developed by Duane Griffith, Montana State University Extension economist, with funding from the Northern Rocky Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council, the tool helps producers compare the kilowatt hours of electricity they need to power their irrigation systems to the electricity produced by several wind turbine systems.

The tool helps producers compare up to three different sizes of wind turbines for up to four different types of irrigation systems. The user enters information about the types of irrigation systems they operate and the tool estimates the kilowatt hours used by each type of irrigation system, as well as the number of kilowatt hours generated by a particular size of wind tower.

Cost Analysis for Improved Irrigation Pumping Efficiency

Clean Energy Farmer — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:37:01 +0000

Pumping Cost Analysis from the Agricultural Pumping Efficiency Program from California State University, Fresno. Hands-on calculator evaluates possible cost savings for electric pumps after equipment retrofit.

Poultry House Minimum Ventilation Fam Timer Settings

Clean Energy Farmer — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:17:17 +0000

Poultry house calculator, a project of Auburn University, allows growers to input individual data and then calculates settings for fan timers in cold weather for maximum efficiency.

New Report on Cow-Powered Biogas in Midwest

Andy Z — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:39:28 +0000

Focus on Energy has released the Wisconsin Agricultural Biogas Casebook, an online report which includes case studies of 17 dairy farm anaerobic digesters that produce renewable energy. Wisconsin currently leads the nation in operating dairy farm digesters that produce electricity and heat from cow manure and other organic materials.

“We’re very proud of the leadership role Wisconsin farms have played in the field of digester systems,” said Larry Krom, project manager for Focus on Energy. “Many of the projects in the casebook received funding from Focus on Energy. It’s our hope that farms from across the state will look to this casebook as a resource. It offers many project details on how different digester systems work, describes enhancements by farm operators and includes candid observations from the farmers themselves.”

Anaerobic digesters offset energy consumption and contribute electricity to the local electrical grid, thus reducing fossil fuel use, eliminating manure odors and pathogens and better controlling the final waste product. A typical anaerobic digester with a 300 kilowatt biogas-fueled generator can produce enough electricity to power 224 average homes. In addition, annual environmental benefits can be equivalent to offsetting 1,117 tons of coal, the emissions from 361 cars, or nearly 2,460 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

Anaerobic digestion is the bacterial decomposition of organic matter that occurs in the absence of oxygen. An anaerobic digester system is an enclosed tank that excludes oxygen and through which organic matter is passed and broken down by naturally occurring bacteria, producing biogas. This biogas is composed of approximately 55 percent to 70 percent methane. The methane produced in the process can be used in an engine-generator to produce electricity and heat.

To learn more about the Wisconsin Agricultural Biogas Casebook, call 800-762-7077, or to download the report, visit focusonenergy.com/biogascasebook.