Solar can provide reliable and cost effective energy (heat, hot water or air, and/or electric power) to meet the needs of many farm applications. The USDA has recently (March 2008) announced the availability of $36 million to support investments in renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and rural small businneses (details on the bottom of this page). With or without this funding it is important to note that agricultural facilities are ideal sites for Solar Applications that can be a good investment for agricultural facilities to improve the cost effectiveness and reliability of their operations. This is especially significant in Florida, the Sunshine State!

Farms and related food processing facilities are idealy suited for Solar Applications- they typically have the space required, the loads and a staff with the capability to utilize the most cost effective solar applications. Solar agricultural applications are often "Site Built" systems, constructed by in-house personnel specificially matched to their requirements are some of the most cost effective and reliable Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Solar Projects being implemented today.

Many farms and agricultural processing facilities require large quantities of low temperature water or air for their operationsfor such things as building washdown, cleaning and drying their product and/or waste stream. Agricultural applications are ideal for solar energy and allow innovative low cost applications such as the those illustrated in this section. Solar can also provide reliable electric power in "Stand Alone" applications away from existing power sources, presisely where it is needed for such things as water pumping, gate openers, lighting, building ventilation, powering tools, alarms, security lighting etc. reliably.

We have been involved in the development, design and installation of successful appropriate alternative energy systems for the C & I applications for more than 20 years and has developed numerous cost effective agricultural solar water heating, water pumping, ventilation systems and waste reduction systems. Find out more about us and what we can do for you by exploring this site.

Solar Heating of Water or Air

Livestock, food processing and dairy operations, for example, require substantial amounts of water heating for building washdown, cleanup and environmental control. Solar Heating systems in agricultural applications can use commercially available hardware such as Solar Pool Heating Collectors, Solar Collectors used for domestic water system, Solar air heating systems as well as "Site Built" systems that can be constructed on site for specific applications. Solar pool collectors, one of the least expensive commercially available solar collectors available, are today being used for aquaculture and other agricultural applications. They can be used in agricultural applications any time warm water is required. When combined with PV (photovoltaics) they can be used anywhere-a nice feature on a farm!

We have designed a number of process water and air heating systems that have been effective in reducing costs in commercial and industrial facilities.Large scale site built systems such as the Foster Farm system, detailed below, illustrates the economics of agricultural applications. The Foster Farm System received international recognition, winning the first place award, from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in 1994. The system was constructed by Foster Farm personnel based on designs developed by Healey & Associates for Florida applications.

Crop and Grain Drying

Solar heating systems can be added to existing structures and used to provide heated air to dry or control temperatures for process heating or crop drying. Another site built system, the Solar Wall system, essentially a perforated building panel has proven to be very effective in crop drying applications as well as ventilation systems to keep facilities warm in the cooler seasons.

Greenhouse Heating: Solar greenhouses are being used in aquaculture facilities to maintain temperatures presisely by incorporating energy efficiency, and PV power anywhere, demonstrating the versatility and reliability of Solar. Such systems have many uses on Agicultural facilities.

Solar Electric Systems

Solar Electric (PV) Power can be used in a wide variety of "stand alone" applications in agricultural facilities. Applications include the typical uses for lighting, fence charging and small power systems but can include the larger system that impact operations in a positive manner-economically as well as improving reliability of operations. Stand Alone systems are cost effective today and will improve reliability of ventilation, lighting, pumping and other systems on a long term basis independent of utility power or generators.Systems include:

Ventilation Systems: Power outages durring or after storms have been problematic for poultry farms. Simple PV powered exhaust fans can provide ventillation independent of the availability of utility power. The same low cost systems can be applied to barns, sheds or whatever to maintain temperatures suitable for the operation.

Water Pumping: Solar pumping has proven to be one of the most reliable energy source for pumping throught the world. It is being used today in agricultural applications throught the country. We have provided systems for facilities in the Everglades that have been operating almost five years without any problems where the only maintenance required has involved replacement of a washer on the pump.

PV systems can also be used for drinking water, irrigation, or included in geothermal systems for space conditioning.

Livestock Watering: PV powered water pumping systems can be used without batteries by pumping the water to storage tanks to providing water for livestock. Such systems serve to while keep the water supply from farm ponds clean, essentially free of contamination. Demonstartion projects have been fielded by the Water Management Districts in South Florida. The pond was simply fenced off to keep livestock from contaminating the water and the water was pumped to a trough for them away from the water. The result was a readily available clean water supply.

Drip Irrigation: PV pumping can readily be used to provide drip irrigation

Pond Aeration: PV Powered pond aeration systems are to control algae in water supplies and ponds are readily available.

 

Geothermal for Water Heating/ Cooling & Space Conditioning

Geothermal, systems that use the constant temperatures ( 70 to 80 degrees) available from the Floridian aquifer can be used directly or in conjunction with Heat Pumps to maintain required temperatures in Spaces, Aquaculture facilities, or processes efficiently and economically. Typically they are designed to use the water in a system that returns the water to the source and only requires a "Non-Comsutive Use" Permit sincce it does not take any water from the aquifer. Such systems are especially attractive in florida where the outdoor environment shortens the life of outdoor HVAC components. They often turn out to be the most economical system available.

Geothermal systems are "Renewable Energy" Applications that can be used under the USDOA Program.

 

Foster Farms Process Water Heating System

Project Description:  Foster Farms is a 165-acre alligator breeding facility located in South Central Florida. The facility contains nine concrete buildings in which alligators are raised. The buildings housing the alligators are maintained at 89°F (32°C)  year-round by a heating system built into the building slabs. The building slabs contain shallow ponds in which the alligators live.  A warm water building washdown and refill system serves to clean the buildings and refill the ponds daily. The buildings and the washdown system are maintained at a constant 89°F (32°C) to maximize growth of the alligators.  In late 1990, an 8,000 ft2 (743 m2), site-built, large volume, Integral Collector Storage (ICS) solar process water heating system was installed at the farm to preheat water. The solar system at the alligator farm is used to preheat 30,000 gallons (114 m3) of the water required daily for building washdown.  The Foster Farms solar system is tied into the existing water lines that feed the LPG-fired boilers.The system is filled with 72°F (22°C) water from the well, heated with solar energy and sent preheated to the LPG-fired boilers used at the farm during the building washdown cycle.

The system which recieved an international award from ASHRAE in 1994 has been in operation since the spring of 1991. Since installation of the solar process water heating system, purchases of LPG decreased 30% while additional buildings (and load) were added to the farm.  System Description:  Collector area: 8,000 ft2 (743 m2)  System capacity: 30,000 gallons (114 m3)  System cost: $106,000.00  System savings: $25,000.00/year System Benefits:  Financial: Return on Investment (ROI) 24% with a payback period of 4.24 years.  Manpower: Reduces manpower required for building washdown by two hours a day.  Environmental: Reduces CO2 and NOx emissions of existing LPG fired boilers.

 

"Site development underway to assist the Agricultural Industry "

Look around this site to get an idea of what solar can do for your Farm or Facility to improve the efficiency and economics of your operations today so you can take advantage of the DOA Funding!

Contact us, via email, for information on any Solar, Renewable or Energy Efficiency Questions and we will try to point you in the right direction!

Contact your County Agent to learn about the Funding available for Solar and Energy Efficiency Projects from the US Dept of Agriculture under the new Farm Bill. Presently $36 Million is available to support Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects from the 2008 USDA Farm Bill for grants to assist farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses with renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Grant applications are due in April & June 16th 2008.

THE FLORIDA ENERGY OFFICE HAS POSTED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER

2008 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Announced

 

$36 million in funding available

Farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses have new opportunities to install energy efficiency upgrades and new renewable energy systems.

The USDA Rural Development released its NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) for this year's Section 9006 clean energy grant and loan guarantee program. The program rules are similar to last year's, with a few changes. Congress recently boosted total 2008 funding for this program from $23 million to $36 million in recognition of the value and demand for Section 9006.

Below are key changes for 2008:

Grants: For grants, the USDA is making $15.9 million available for 2008 (though more may come later from unused loan guarantee allocations). The USDA has established two grant cycles this year, with application deadlines of April 16th and June 16th. 50% of the grant funding will be set aside for each cycle. Applications not funded in the first cycle will be reconsidered in the second cycle.

Loan Guarantees: USDA will review and decide applications for loan guarantees on a continuous basis, but must be received by USDA no later than June 16th. Applications for combined loan guarantee-grants will be reviewed bi-weekly and USDA also must receive those applications no later than June 16th. The USDA has provided funding resulting in $205 million in loan guarantees (leveraging $19.9 million from original Congressional funding).

On-Line Applications: Grant applicants have the option to submit applications online from www.grants.gov and submit their application electronically. (At the time of this writing, the application is not yet available). Loan guarantee applications can only be submitted in paper form.

Further Information: Further information on the program including frequently asked questions, official application forms and templates, checklists, tips, case studies, application instructions and regulations can be found at www.farmenergy.org.