September 12, 2022

 

Researchers developing tool for poultry producers to utilise solar technology

 

 

Researchers from the University of Arkansas, US are developing the Poultry Solar Assessment tool (PSA), a free tool to assist poultry producers in deciding if they should use solar energy for their operations, University of Arkansas reported.

 

In 2021, Yi Liang, an associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering and a researcher with the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at the university, examined the cost-saving potential of solar energy in a poultry production facility in Arkansas.

 

According to Liang, the poultry farmer saved more than 90% of his annual electricity costs. In 11 out of the 12 months that he paid his utility bills in 2021, he only paid account fees, which ranged from $15 to $25 per month.

 

The initial cost of solar technology varies depending on the operation. It might be expensive, but in the long run, Michael Popp, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, said it can benefit a grower's balance sheet.

 

The Division of Agriculture of the University of Arizona System conducts research through the Agricultural Experiment Station. The division's research and extension efforts are both included in the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science.

 

Popp said they have examined poultry farm installations with installation costs between US$250,000 and US$600,000." For installations of that size, the associated 30-year total profit ranged from US$75,000 to US$280,000.

 

He said farmers already know how much electricity they will produce and how much their depreciation, insurance, interest, and property tax costs will be when they install, so what they are doing is replacing a portion of their electricity bill with up-front known costs. As a result, solar panels lessen your exposure to fluctuating electricity cost.

 

Tax credits and, to a much lesser extent, grants from REAP, the Rural Energy for America Program, were included in their analysis.

 

Popp and Liang created an online decision support tool based on the data to assist growers in determining whether solar is practical for their farms. The Poultry Solar Assessment tool should be accessible for download in October, Popp said.

 

Popp said the Poultry Solar Assessment tool uses farm-specific information to estimate system size and appropriate electricity rates on the basis of the information from the previous 12 months' worth of electric bill data. The user can then decide on the terms of the financing as well as how long they believe it will take them to start saving money on their taxes.

 

Popp has created a line of decision support tools that make it simple for farmers in Arkansas to weigh the benefits and trade-offs of various options in every area of the state's agricultural sector. Visit agribusiness.uark.edu/decision-support-software to download them for free.

 

-      University of Arkansas