Using Wind Energy on Farms Presented by: Michael Reese, Renewable Energy Director West Central Research and Outreach Center Presented at: 13 th Annual Small Wind Conference Bloomington, MN April 10, 2017
Why renewable energy and energy efficiency for farms? 1. The technology has improved (less expensive, more reliable, produce more, easier / safer to interconnect and maintain). 2. The systems can be practical and may provide a reasonable financial return. 3. State and Federal incentives are available to farmers. 4. Ag commodity processors and retailers may place a premium (or mandate) low carbon footprint products. 5. Renewable energy fits the farming philosophy (Land-based, creates independence, may improve efficiency, production of a commodity).
University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center 77 kw solar PV 1.65 MW Vestas V82 Wind Turbine NH3 Pilot Plant
Strategic Objective: Reduce fossil energy consumption in production agriculture Outline: 1. Energy-Optimized Dairy Facilities - Design - System components - 10 kw Wind Turbines with Assembled Foundation and Self Raising Tower 2. Energy-Optimized Swine Facilities - Design - System Components - Sow Cooling System with chilled drinking water and cooling pads 3. Using Wind Energy to Produce Nitrogen Fertilizer
Energy Consumed in Dairy Production: 1. Auditing energy consumed in conventional and organic production systems at WCROC 2. Modeling energy-optimized dairy facilities 3. Developing net-zero energy dairy parlor with thermal storage, solar thermal and PV systems, small wind turbines, and energy-efficiency upgrades 4. Life cycle assessment 5. Energy-optimized retrofit pre-designs for commercial dairies 6. New proposal for energy auditing commercial dairies, solar PV shade, and electric charging stations for utility vehicles
Dairy Overarching Goal: Develop a net-zero energy dairy where we produce as much energy as consumed.
Reducing Milk Harvesting Energy Use Milk Extraction Electrically powered vacuum removes 20.4 liters milk (11.9 organic) Milk Cooling Milk cooled from 37⁰ C (100⁰ F) to under 4⁰ C (40⁰ F) Sterilizing Equipment Facility is pressure washed with hot water Equipment is cleaned with 71⁰ C (160⁰ F) water General Cleaning and Operations Average of 4 loads of laundry per day Shower Facilities 2015 Energy Use (2900 MJ/Day) Tallaksen et. al., 2016
New Utility Room for Dairy Parlor Facility
Thermal Storage Tank for Dairy Facility
Thermal Storage Tank for Dairy Facility
Two 10 kw Wind Turbines 54 kw Solar PV
WCROC 10 kw Ventera Wind Turbines Installation in Winter / Spring 2017 SPECIFICATIONS: Wind Turbine Ventera Model VT10 240 10kW at 29mph-13m/s Cut In Wind Speed: 6mph-2.7m/s, Survival Wind Speed: 130 mph-58 m/s Total Weight of turbine and blades: 580lbs 263kg 3 blade, downwind, Diameter: 22 feet-6.7m Swept Area: 380 SF/35.25 SM RPM: 270 peak, Blade: Glass fiber engineered plastic, injection molded Generator Rating: 15kva 240vac at 250rpm, 3 phase
WCROC 10 kw Ventera Wind Turbines Base for Assembled Foundation
WCROC 10 kw Ventera Wind Turbines Base for Assembled Foundation
WCROC 10 kw Ventera Wind Turbines Installation in Winter / Spring 2017 SPECIFICATIONS: Assembled Foundation 50,000 lbs of ballast for 70 foot tower More ballast required for larger pole Site Prep Removed 4 feet of soil Added 4 feet of packed Class 5 gravel 25 foot diameter prepped 15 foot diameter foundation Foundation is 7 feet tall
WCROC 10 kw Ventera Wind Turbines Assembled Foundation
WCROC 10 kw Ventera Wind Turbines Assembled Foundation
WCROC 10 kw Ventera Wind Turbines Self-Raising Tower
WCROC 10 kw Ventera Wind Turbines Installation in Winter 2017
WCROC 50 kw Solar PV System (TenKSolar Ground Mount)
Flat Plate Solar Thermal System (Solar Skies Ground Mount)
MegaJoules 160,000 Modeled Dairy Monthly Energy Loads and Renewable Energy Production 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Existing Load (MJ/m) Total Predicted Load, All Electric (MJ/m) Total RE Production (MJ/m)
MegaJoules Modeled Dairy Results Change in Energy Loads and RE Production 1,000,000 900,000 800,000 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Initial Energy Load (MJ/m) Final Energy Load (MJ/m) Total RE Production (MJ/m) Saves over 120,000 kwh/yr and eliminates natural gas usage Reduces Total Energy Load by 43% Energy, per Gallon of Milk Produced: 0.40 kwh, 43% Reduction
WCROC Sow Cooling Project Design 1. Provides more effective sow cooling by: A. Utilizing chilled water circulating through pads which the sows lay on. B. Providing chilled drinking water. 2. Sows are kept in their thermal neutral comfort zone at 65 F and therefore should have better feed efficiency and reproductive performance 3. Heat rejected by the sows will be captured and used in a fluid-based heating pad for the piglets (heat lamps providing supplementary heat to piglets are one of the largest energy consumers in conventional swine facilities). 4. System is powered by renewable electricity
Sow Cooling Pads
WCROC 27 kw Solar PV System on Swine Finishing Facility Additional 20 kw system to be added to farrowing facility
Wind Energy to Nitrogen Fertilizer Drivers 1. Ammonia production far away from Minnesota farm fields 2. Stranded wind resource due to low transmission capacity 3. Volatile nitrogen fertilizer prices for farmers 4. High ammonia demand and robust infrastructure 5. Need to secure for domestic food production (Nitrogen is 2 nd most limiting nutrient in corn and small grain production) 6. Supports economic development ($500 million to $1 billion exported each year out of Minnesota) 7. Helps reduce carbon footprint of grain and feed production
Renewable Fertilizer: An Elegant Idea Wind Energy + Water + Air = Nitrogen Fertilizer
Renewable Hydrogen and Ammonia Pilot Plant Hydrogen Storage Tanks Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Ammonia Production Buildings Nitrogen Storage Tank Safety Equipment & Shower Building 12.5 kv to 480 V Transformer Ammonia Product Storage (3000 Gallons) Ammonia Pump and Loadout
Hydrogen Electrolyzer (Proton Energy 10 kw)
Air Compressor and Dryer N2 Gas Generation
820 F Gas (N 2 & H 2 ) Ammonia (NH 3 ) Process Flow Condenser -15 F 1500 psi Separator S-1 Recycle gas (N 2 & H 2 ) Incoming gas N 2 H 2 Electric Heater NH 3 Reactor Chiller NH 3 to Storage 250 psi -15 F 7.35 lb/h -5 F 1500 psi Compressor 930 F Gas (N 2,H 2 & NH 3 ) 180 F 50 F 2000 psi Process gasses & NH 3 are cooled 800 F Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers Process gasses are heated
Ammonia Reactor Skid
NH3 Load Out, Storage, Nurse Tanks, & Application
Ammonia Fuel Research John Deere Diesel on Dynamometer Integrated Reactor Manifold Displacing 50% of Diesel Fuel in Tractors
2017 Midwest Farm Energy Conference, June 13-14, 2017 West Central Research & Outreach Center - Morris Excellent speakers including: Mr. Mark Greenwood, AgStar Financial Dr. Brian Buhr, Dean U of MN College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences Dr. Barry Dunn, President, South Dakota State Univ. Dr. Jay Harmon, Iowa State Tours of innovative, farm-scale renewable energy systems For more information or to register, go to: http://wcroc.cfans.umn.edu/mfec-registration
Renewable Energy Staff: 1. Rob Gardner, Assistant Professor 2. Joel Tallaksen, Scientist 3. Eric Buchanan, Scientist 4. Cory Marquart, Assistant Scientist 5. Kirsten Sharpe, Junior Scientist 6. Michael Reese, Renewable Energy Program Director
Contact Information: Michael Reese Director- Renewable Energy West Central Research & Outreach Center University of Minnesota Phone: (320) 589-1711 Web: http://renewables.morris.umn.edu reesem@umn.edu Acknowledgements: MN Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund through LCCMR U of MN MnDRIVE and IREE U of MN Rapid Agriculture Response Fund State of Minnesota Xcel Energy through a grant from the Xcel Renewable Development Fund