Chris Perry Responsible Agriculture Stewardship Biogas Production and Experiences in Canada Berlin - March 22, 2017
Happy Spring! Chris Perry Responsible Agriculture Stewardship
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Province of Alberta Canada
Perry Family Farm
Perry Family Farm
Spuds
Perry Family Farm - 2017 Farm Land: Own 31 irrigated quarters 1880 Hectares Potato Storage 25,000 tonne McCain Contract 10,000 tonne Frito Lay Contract 13,000 tonne
Perry Farm the other numbers Own 31 irrigated quarters (~ 4000 acres) irrigated land Potato Contract: 13,550 ton for Frito Lay Canada 8670 ton for McCain Canada Green Pea Contract with Bonduel 360 acres Sunflower contract with Spitz: 250 acres Mixed Grains and Flax - 500+ acres Canola Seed Contract with Hytech: 250 acres We use an incredible amount of resources to grow this food We MUST be responsible Stewards and ensure sustainable production Our Strategic Intent: Ensure the farm is in better health than received for future generations!
Jim Collins
Interdisciplinary Jim Collins thinkers
Perry Farm BHAG Year 2012 2020 Vision Reduce Inputs by 20% Increase Net Yields by 20% Accomplish by 2020
Vision 2020 Energy Efficiency
Vision 2020 Renewable Energy
Soil Life and Carbon More organisms in a tablespoon of healthy soil than people on earth
Soil Life and Carbon 1 % soil organic matter has nearly 10000 pounds of carbon/ac Most crop land has lost 1 to 4 % OM since farming began There is around 3.5 billion acres of cropland on earth 1 % OM increase Equals 17.5 billion ton of CO2
Soil Life Carbon Amendments Compost and compost tea
Soil Life and Carbon
Soil Life Carbon Amendments Healthy Farm land Use Cover Crops to Improve Soil - Cover crops solar-charge your soil and improve soil nutrients. Here is what you need to know about cover crop planting methods and reliable cover crop options for your region. Barbara Pleasant
Vision 2020 Energy (and Carbon) from Waste We love Renewable Energy We throw away lots of spuds
2004 - Let s Build a Biogas Plant!
Benefits of Waste to Energy Reduced Landfill waste Clean, true green Electric Power Reduced Spreading of Raw Manure Over 10,000 MT C0 2 e GHG reduction Every year Reduced synthetic Fertilizer, near zero odour Pathogen and disease life cycle destruction
2004 Grow the Energy Circle a Beginning
2012 Grow the Energy Circle a new Beginning
Nov 2014 We have a Biogas Plant Commissioned Engine on BioGas Nov 2014 Processed over 12000 tonnes of organic waste and manure Produced over 2000 MWhrs of Electricity fed into the Alberta Electricity Grid This is over double our Entire 4000 irrigated acre, 25,000 spud storage Farm use this year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rdbbn-d_xm&feature=youtu.be
The Evolving Growtec An incredible amount of policy, regulatory and utility #&$%^@^%!@*!*!! Challenges to make economics work as stand alone waste to energy facility A farmer can justify anything Requirement / Desire to capitalize fully and utilize all resources on site; Potential for a agricultural based cluster / model of industrial symbiosis integrating agriculture, renewable energy, a greenhouse, and ICT
Potential for RNG BIOGAS power vehicles Industrial Symbiosis On site Greenhouse / Algae farm Biodiesel for tractors and trucks
Industrial Symbiosis
Industrial Symbiosis DATA New Start up Data Award Sicoya 2.5% of power in US and Germany goes to Data Centers Expected to increase to 7%
And Big Data is also? The Fastest growing anthropogenic source of GHG s on the Planet
Data Driven Agriculture Tools
Data Driven Agriculture Tools VERIS 6 - Zone Map Output from VERIS Mapping Data - Watersheds - Slope - Hills 15 Layers Fertility Information (Soil Data Stack 17 Layers) 1 -Soil Texture 1 Water Holding Capacity - Depressions - Topography
Data What would we do with a data center cloud facility / Why? Jeff Bronsch Sunrise Ag Taber, AB http://www.sunrise-ag.ca
Industrial Symbiosis Biomass back to system
The GrowTEC Story to come August 2014 Biogas Power 350KW ½ Power
GrowTEC 2015 FULL Biogas POWER 2014 Biogas Power 350KW 2015 development optimization 633KW
GrowTEC 2019+ Greenhouse 2015 development, optimization 633 KW 2014 Biogas Power 2019 Greenhouse Development
GrowTEC 2019+ Data Center and DDA Hub 2015 development, optimization 633 KW 2014 Biogas Power 2019 Greenhouse 2019+ Ag Data Center and DDA Hub
GrowTEC 2020+ Wetland Development 2014 Biogas Power 2015 development, optimization 633 KW 20179 Greenhouse 2019 Ag Data Center and DDA Hub Future Wetland
GrowTEC 2014 Biogas Power 2015 development, optimization 633 KW 2016 Greenhouse Algae trial 2017/18 Ag Data Center and DDA Hub Wetland
BioMethane Opportunities Commercial Scale Steam sprayer for agriculture use
Grow the Energy Circle Ltd Thoughts are things
Canada s Scene Liberal Government in since 2015 from Conservative - Platform - more green Since then: - National floor price set at $10/t on carbon by 2018 - Administered by province (state) and all kept in province
Canada Biogas Scene ~ 50+ Ag/Commercial Biogas Plants in Canada - 35 biogas plants in Ontario Feed in Tarriff - of these 4 considered commercial and the rest agricultural - 20 more ag based plants in rest of Canada 4 in Alberta
Alberta s Scene Province of Alberta Canada NDP government from Conservative in May 2015 in Province of AB - Platform - more green Since then: Climate leaderships advisory panel - Built a climate leadership plan: 4 cornerstones: 1. Accelerated phase out of coal phase out by 2030. 2. Carbon levy 3. Cap on oil sand emissions 4. Methane gas emission reduction - Climate change office formed. - Bioenergy Producer Program - $60cdn/MW on Biogas electric production - April 2016 through Sept 2017 then looking for policy change to support - Phasing out of Coal - Indexed REC Auction program. Bid into auction at price, and if you win, that is what you get. Gov matches price that does not affect the pool, just tops up when below, and must be paid back when above. Presently a call for larger projects over 5MW (mainly wind and solar) 20 year program - Target is 30% by 2030 renewable, which is aggressive for Alberta which sits on coal and Gas.
Alberta s Scene Province of Alberta Canada De-regulated power market Regulated Grid (D&T) On farm we pay ~ 12 cents/kwh all in GrowTEC receives to date since 2014 ~ 2.5 cents/kwh BPP Program Bridge 6 cents / KWh April 2016 through Sept 2017. - Change in policy coming we hope!
Alberta s Scene Alberta Carbon Tax Bill 20. Carbon Levy on consumers of all carbon emitting fuels throughout fuel supply chain. Carbon funds may only be used for: 1. initiatives related to reducing GHG 2. Supporting Alberta s ability to adapt to Climate Change 3. Rebates or adjustments related to Carbon levy to consumers, businesses Carbon Tax $20.t in 2017, $30/t in 2018 Type Ctax $20/t Ctax $30/t Diesel: 5.35 cents/l 8.0 cents/l Gas 4.49 cents/l 6.73 cents/l NG $1.01 / GJ $1.52/GJ Propane 3.08 cents/l 4.62 cents/l Exemptions Fuel used by large emitters paying SGER (over 100,000 t/y), Farmers, other minor - Comment yesterday on level playing field Carbon Tax in AB is hurting us here, as we are exporters of goods
Grow the Energy Circle Ltd In Summary: A crazy Canadian built a biogas plant For the Right reason! Strategic intent - Sustainable practice Waste to Energy, recycle organic, reduce inputs, increase yield with carbon in soil Very difficult demographic for Bio-energy. off grid farm to come
Grow the Energy Circle Ltd Chris Perry President Chin, AB ckpfarms@hotmail.com 403-634-2426 www.growtheenergycircle.com