April 9, 2007

Delaware opens cost-saving solar poultry house

A US$500,000 poultry house, relying on solar electricity for lighting, heat and ventilation, has been opened in the US state of Delaware.

The poultry growout house owned by Allen Family Foods, Inc. is a solar study for the US poultry industry and a partnership between Allen Family Foods, WorldWater & Power Corp., GE Energy, the University of Delaware, the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

World Water & Power Corp., developer of proprietary high-power solar systems, designed and engineered the photovoltaic installation for Allen.

The new system supplies all essential electricity for lighting, heat and ventilation used to raise day-old chickens to maturity, and would significantly reduce Allen's electricity costs.

Solar electricity stored in batteries can be tapped if the grid fails, or used during periods when utility rates are most expensive. In the event there is no solar, battery or grid power, the system automatically triggers backup diesel generation of electricity.

As energy prices have risen in recent years the poultry industry is looking at solar power as a cost effective, sustainable energy source for growout contractors throughout the US.