Department of Energy is essential to Agriculture Department , from fuel ask to operate machinery to the electricity necessary to heat or coolheaded stock and greenhouses . Most of this vim is presently satisfy with fossil fuel . As demands on natural resources increment , novel solution are take to nurture our food yield while ameliorate how it is powered .
Two studies recently loose by the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis ( JISEA ) show how farm and agricultural production facilities can make their energy generation and consumption more sustainable .
“ JISEA is researching ways to boil down the cost of energy in solid food system , reduce emissions , appraise novel energy sources for Agriculture Department , and increase intellectual nourishment resilience , ” said JISEA Director Jill Engel - Cox .
JISEA produced a case study of sustainable , authentic , and economic heat and big businessman generation chance in Colorado farms . This piece of work — supported by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado Energy Office — will help come along Colorado ’s profitable , fair , and efficient husbandry operations .
Solar vigour is a promising solution for Colorado greenhousesAgricultural greenhouses extend auspices from weather cataclysm , farming area degradation , population growth , and pee scarcity . However , they have high energy demands compared to traditional open - air agrarian systems .
greenhouse expect cautiously optimise environments with accurate water and nutrient cycles . influence temperature , kindling , humidity , and ambient C dioxide concentrations and operating mechanical equipment wipe out the most energy . If the right conditions are n’t met , crop run out .
JISEA analysts Gail Mosey and Laura Supple studied the electric potential for solar energy to ply heat , electrical energy , and backup power at four Colorado greenhouses : Altman Specialty Plants , Gunnison Gardens , Welby Gardens , and Zapata Seeds .
Colorado greenhouses traverse a broad range of refinement proficiency , existing on - site vigor imagination , structural designs , and clime control strategies — ensue in dissimilar vigour needs and agrarian challenges .
No one - size - fits - all“We found there is no one - size - fit - all push solvent for glasshouse because they ’re such unequaled systems , ” said Gail Mosey , tether generator of the JISEA case discipline . “ However , an appropriate combination of technical and non - proficient resolution can sustainably address the greatest energy - devour areas . ”
Different combination of solar power and solar thermic engineering could boil down operating costs , improve farm fight , and better the sustainability and resiliency of agricultural yields . For object lesson , grid - connected solar photovoltaic systems could meet the greenhouse ’ energy demand and provender power back into the grid , thin out the indigence for additional backup generators or batteries .
“ There is no single resolution to take a leak farm more sustainable , ” said Sam Anderson , energy specialist and program administrator at the Colorado Department of Agriculture . “ But the suit study outline some promising approaches to amend efficiency and profitability and help farmers thrive , which is so important to our American spirit . ”
Read the full fount studies to learn more about howColorado dairies could use anaerobic digestion , andColorado glasshouse could use solar energyto achieve zip independency while meliorate lucrativeness and reducing emissions .
Frontpage photo : © Dreamstime
