Renewable Energy Production on Farms

Introduction:

In combination with energy conservation practices, farmers can produce their own energy to become
even more self sufficient by reducing external inputs. Not only does renewable energy help the farmer
save money but also combats the effects of global warming. Biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar,
and wind power can produce electricity for heating, lighting, and fuel for use on the farm. This
publication describes and outlines appropriate uses for the renewable energy options mentioned above
in a farm setting, as well as providing some information on finding financial incentives for installing and
running these systems.

With a little initial investment, energy can be made for free from renewable sources such as the sun,
wind, and water. When considering a renewable energy system for your site check with local zoning
ordinances before beginning construction. Also keep in mind that any renewable energy electric system
on the farm can be connected to the utility grid with an inverter allowing the farmer to receive payment
for the power they produce.

Abstract

Agriculture is the sole provider of human food. Most farm machines are driven by fossil fuels, which
contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and, in turn, accelerate climate change. Such environmental
damage can be mitigated by the promotion of renewable resources such as solar, wind, biomass, tidal,
geo-thermal, small-scale hydro, biofuels and wave-generated power. These renewable resources have a
huge potential for the agriculture industry. The farmers should be encouraged by subsidies to use
renewable energy technology. The concept of sustainable agriculture lies on a delicate balance of
maximizing crop productivity and maintaining economic stability, while minimizing the utilization of
finite natural resources and detrimental environmental impacts. Sustainable agriculture also depends on
replenishing the soil while minimizing the use of non-renewable resources, such as natural gas, which is
used in converting atmospheric nitrogen into synthetic fertilizer, and mineral ores, e.g. phosphate or
fossil fuel used in diesel generators for water pumping for irrigation. Hence, there is a need for
promoting use of renewable energy systems for sustainable agriculture, e.g. solar photovoltaic water
pumps and electricity, greenhouse technologies, solar dryers for post-harvest processing, and solar hot
water heaters. In remote agricultural lands, the underground submersible solar photovoltaic water
pump is economically viable and also an environmentally-friendly option as compared with a diesel
generator set. If there are adverse climatic conditions for the growth of particular plants in cold climatic
zones then there is need for renewable energy technology such as greenhouses for maintaining the
optimum plant ambient temperature conditions for the growth of plants and vegetables. The economics
of using greenhouses for plants and vegetables, and solar photovoltaic water pumps for sustainable
agriculture and the environment are presented in this article. Clean development provides industrialized
countries with an incentive to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries to achieve a
reduction in CO2 emissions at the lowest cost. The mechanism of clean development is discussed in brief
for the use of renewable systems for sustainable agricultural development specific to solar photovoltaic
water pumps in India and the world. This article explains in detail the role of renewable energy in
farming by connecting all aspects of agronomy with ecology, the environment, economics and societal
change.

Renewable energy can address many concerns related to fossil energy use. It produces little or no
environmental emissions and does not rely on imported fuels. Renewable resources are not finite (as
fossil fuels are) and many are available throughout the country. Price competitiveness has been a
concern, but costs have decreased significantly since the initial wave of interest in renewable energy in
the 1970s. These technologies now provide 6.1 quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu) for domestic
energy consumption

Different renewable technologies are at different points in their development. Some are commercially
available or nearly so, and others have potential for the longer term. Unfortunately, many benefits that
renewable energy can provide are not monetized — they cannot be perceived through price signals.
Policies are needed to push or pull these new technologies to full commercial development. This article
examines the domestic status and opportunities for a number of renewable energy technologies —
solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass.

Expanding the Potential of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy technologies are being used in a variety of applications on farms and ranches and
there are many opportunities to expand their use in the future. For example, renewable, farm-based
biomass and other renewable energy sources may be able to fuel hydrogen production; agricultural
vehicles running on hydrogen could have the same efficiency and environmental benefits planned for
light-duty cars and trucks; and hydrogen fuel cell technology could provide power for remote locations
and communities.

Where do we go from here to encourage renewable sources of energy that are important to agriculture,
such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass? The development of a new energy future will require
research, development, demonstration, deployment, and commercialization of new technologies. Each
of these activities must function as part of a continuum flowing from the research bench to commercial
application, with feedback loops among the various steps. Collaboration, education, and policy will all be
important.
The Philippines is currently facing different problems especially in the sector of agriculture. These are
some of the problems we think that needs an urgent solution.

1. Small farm size; 78% farms are less than 3 hectares.

Most of our farms are have already shrunk in size due to the fast growth of our population. Therefore,
our country needs to build more houses, sacrificing the agricultural sector of our country.

Evidence:
To combat the lack of resources and lands the farmers had, the Philippine Government issued several
Land Reform Programs. Just like the Republic Act (RA) 6657 which was implemented under Cory
Aquino’s time with aims to redistribute lands both public and privately while providing appropriate
support services to help the beneficiaries become independent small landowners.

2.  Land is being encroached upon by the housing and industrial sectors
This is quite the same as the first one. Basically, this problem caused the first problem to happen due to
the same reasons.

3. Absence of critical programs on efficient irrigation systems

Irrigation is an important factor in agriculture. Irrigation helps farmers keep their crops well-hydrated
and moist, especially during the warm seasons. Without irrigation, the soil would become dry and the
crops will wilt.

4. Inadequate management programs on soil, pests and diseases

Pests and crop diseases have been a major problem in the agricultural sector of the Philippines. It lacks
funding from the government. If these pests and diseases were to be left out of control, famine would
crawl across our country.

5. Reduced farm labor

Due to the fast industrialization of our country, many people prefer to do industrialized work instead of
planting crops for the nation to eat. Our farmers have started to grow old, and only few are replacing
our old farmers.

6. Expensive and inappropriate farm equipment for small farmers

Since we do not have much money for spending in agricultural needs, machinery needed for this has
become a great expense for our pockets.

7. Climate change and natural disasters

Our country is known to be prone to natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes. What is not seen
is that most of our crops cannot resist extreme weather conditions like these. Encroaching climate
change can also affect our agriculture due to its effects like droughts.

Evidence:
Climate change and natural disasters are inevitable. The National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) is responsible for advising the Philippine President on national development planning. This
provides technical support in coordinating the formulation of national plans and policies for agriculture,
natural resources and agrarian re-form sectors.

8. Inadequate technology transfer mechanisms

Our technology regarding agriculture is not given enough attention. Our country lacks machinery and
technology to improve our produce.

Solutions of the Mendelian Economists

1. Small farm size; 78% farms are less than 3 hectares.

2. Land is being encroached upon by the housing and industrial sectors

In order to solve these problems, it is good to consider the natural state of our farm lands. Most farm
lands are being replaced by buildings and houses dute to globalization but maintaining these lands will
help for the development in our agriculture.
3. Absence of critical programs on efficient irrigation systems

4. Inadequate management programs on soil, pests and diseases.

To control and stop these problems, awareness is important as well as having a voice and a stand in
terms of this topic. Programs should be implemented by the government and providing subsidies for the
irrigation systems of the land. As a part of millennials, we can share our thoughts using social media to
campaign our advocacy to better improve our economy especially in agriculture for we depend on it in
terms of production.

5. Reduced farm labor

To make the agricultural sector lively again, we can encourage citizens to farm again through
campaigning and education. Anything can be sparked using bare knowledge and motivation.

Evidence:

The number of Filipino farmers lessens each year. The average age of a Filipino farmer is 57. The
government has thought of ways in the past to fight this issue. For example the Republic Act No. 602
with a goal to establish a minimum wage law, to make it easier for farmers to earn money.

6. Expensive and inappropriate farm equipment for small farmers

Science and technology is important. A project wherein it is agriculture-based would be a great idea
featuring different researches such as alternative and new machines, prcoesses, etc. which may help for
faster and better production of the country.

7. Climate change and natural disasters

This is one of the problems of our country though it is unexpected. Crops are damaged due to strong
typhoons considering our geography. A possible solution would be good irrigation systems to prevent
flood to damage crops.

Evidence:
Climate change and natural disasters are inevitable. The National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) is responsible for advising the Philippine President on national development planning. This
provides technical support in coordinating the formulation of national plans and policies for agriculture,
natural resources and agrarian re-form sectors.

8. Inadequate technology transfer mechanisms

Our country does not invest that much in Technology considering it is important when it comes to
agriculture. In order to have progress, new mechanisms and processes are important. Programs having
exhibits on researches will be a great an dpromising idea having Filipinos with great minds.
Renewable Energy Production on Farms

Biomass: According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “Tripling U.S. use of biomass for energy could
provide as much as $20 billion in new income for farmers and rural communities and reduce global
warming emissions by the same amount as taking 70 million cars off the road.” Plant and animal derived
materials used for energy are known as biomass. Biomass such as sugars and oils from plants can be
used to make fuel for vehicles (Biofuel or Biodiesel) and the burning of biomass for heat or electricity is
simply called Biopower.

Biofuels are a renewable energy alternative which can be made from crops grown on the farm to fuel
vehicles. Some of the controversy surrounding biofuels has to do with using valuable agricultural land to
grow energy crops rather than food. To combat this controversy, some farmers choose to grow oil fuel
crops such as sunflower, canola, or crambe for the dual purpose of feedstock and biodiesel production.
Growing oilseed crops for fuel production on the farm can also be cost effective where after crushing
the seed to extract oil, the meal byproduct has a higher market value than the oil itself. While small
scale oil presses may be expensive (ranging from $400 to $13,000) some farmers have found a
cooperative purchase with other farmers to be effective. Some disadvantages of biodiesel are poor cold
weather performance and formation of sediments if stored for long periods. Recycling used vegetable
oil from local restaurants is also an option for farmers running their equipment with biofuel.

Biopower is electricity produced from steam created by the burning of biomass or burning gas from
biodigestors. Biodigestors trap and burn gasses from microbial decomposition of biomass such as
manure. While the technology for biodigestors is fairly simple and has been used for many years, safe
and clean systems have been designed for use today. Biomass crops such as switchgrass, corn, or fast
growing trees can be pelletized and burned for heating buildings such as greenhouses or converted to
electricity by way of steam. Some agricultural byproducts such as corn stovers can be used to produce
energy without compromising soil quality or increasing erosion. Again, a cooperative purchase of a
pelletizer may be sufficient for farmers wishing to burn pellets for heat

Solar

Solar technologies produce electrical or thermal energy. Photovoltaic (PV) cells (or "solar cells") that convert
sunlight directly into electricity are made of semiconductors such as crystalline silicon or various thin-film
materials. Solar thermal technologies collect heat from the sun and then use it directly for space and water heating
or convert it to electricity through conventional steam cycles, heat engines, or other generating technologies
(concentrating solar systems). In the future, solar energy could produce hydrogen to provide transportation fuels,
chemicals, and electricity, and to serve as energy storage at times when the sun is not shining.

As a result of technological advances, the costs of these technologies have been steadily decreasing, and high
electricity costs can bridge the gap further. Although solar resources are greatest in the Southwest (about 25
percent higher than the national average), solar electricity may be more cost effective in states with high electricity
costs.

Wind Energy

Wind technologies provide mechanical and electrical energy. Wind turbines operate on a simple principle: Wind
turns rotor blades, which drive an electric generator, turning the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy.
The wind is a renewable energy source, and windmills do not produce harmful environmental emissions. Utility-
scale turbines range in size from 750 kilowatts (kW) to 5 megawatts (MW), with most turbines exceeding 1 MW.
Turbines are often grouped into wind farms, which provide bulk power to the electrical grid. Small wind turbines
range in size from 0.4 to 1.5 kW generators for small loads, such as battery charging for sailboats and small cabins,
to 3 to 15 kW systems for a home, to those that generate up to 100 kW of electricity for larger loads, such as small
commercial operations

Geothermal

Geothermal technologies produce electrical or thermal energy. Three types of geothermal power plants are
operating today: dry steam plants, flash steam plants, and binary-cycle plants. High-temperature geothermal
resources (greater than 300°F) are used for power generation.

Individual power plants can be as small as 100 kW or as large as 100 MW. The technology is suitable for rural
electric mini-grids, as well as national grid applications. The heat from geothermal energy can also be utilized
directly. Geothermal fluids can be used for such purposes as heating buildings, growing plants in greenhouses,
dehydrating onions and garlic, heating water for fish farming, and pasteurizing milk. Generally, low-to-medium
temperature resources (between 70°F and 300°F) are used. Another technology, geothermal heat pumps, can
provide space heating and cooling. This technology does not require a hydrothermal (hot water) resource, but
instead uses the near-surface ground as a heat source during the heating season and as a heat sink during the
cooling season
CONCLUSION

Human power and use of draft animals are the dominant inputs into rural agricultural

production and processing activities in Philippines . This study reviewed the usage of alternative

renewable energy sources such as biomass, geothermal, wind, solar and hydropower by looking

at their limitations, prospects and current applications for agricultural practices. This energy

sources could serve to reduce the energy deficit various agricultural practices both in rural and

urban areas and lessen the rate of environmental degradation however, adequate agricultural

extension service is needed to educate, enlighten, and transfer this knowledge to rural areas for

alternative energy development, management, monitoring, and evaluation. The strengthening of

local institutions, such as rural cooperatives, could also be used to promote awareness of

renewable energy sources and also serve to ensure security and sustainability of rural

installations for farm production and processing activities.