Greenhouse & Agriculture
CHP offers greenhouse growers an on-site, independent power system that generates profits and revolutionizes greenhouse efficiencies. Based on lean-burn, natural gas-powered generators, CHP utilizes nearly every system output through the capture and reuse of waste exhaust heat and carbon dioxide (CO2).Compared to traditional utility- and boiler-powered greenhouses, CHP achieves up to 90 percent energy efficiency and utilization, delivering a as high as 30 percent reduction in energy costs — and up to 30 percent increases in yields.
CHP consolidates the following resources for greenhouse growers:
- Electricity for lights and other greenhouse operations
- Thermal energy provides on-site heating
- CO2 fertilization boosts crop production up to 30 percent
- Surplus energy may be sold back to the local utility
For optimal greenhouse plant growth and production, there are numerous variables, including plant species, air temperature, moisture supply, light levels and duration, soils or hydroponic nutrient levels, and CO2 levels. Temperature, light levels and duration and CO2 levels can all be controlled by a CHP-CO2 system. Individual owners must consider the cost of optimizing growing conditions, but today many are including these systems in their evaluations.
Mining
The nature of the mining industry at the moment means that miners are carefully analyzing their operational expenditures, and reducing fuel and power generation costs is an obvious place to focus attention.
Remote locations and limited access to local grid infrastructure means that the mining industry places significant demand on diesel generation for electricity. Fuel costs are a considerable issue here and the volatility of oil prices makes it difficult for diesel reliant mines to manage those fluctuations and protect profit margins. We’ve seen it through our work with mine sites all around the world, and are constantly looking at ways to improve fuel efficiency.
Working in partnership with mining companies to develop a new reliable, future-proof energy source is a priority and a worthwhile investment for on-site power providers.
‘Hybrid’ energy solutions are continuing to be developed and implemented within the mining industry, improving efficiency and bottom lines massively. Whether the mine uses waste products or renewable sources, the high risk of intermittency and unreliability means diesel will continue to play a significant role.
Using hybrid solar/diesel/energy storage power generation for onsite mining operations offer many positives and as developments in renewable energy technologies continue to advance, hybrid solutions are starting to show how they can be beneficial. Where grid infrastructure is not available or insufficient, having your own source of power is essential. With uncertainty around commodity prices, miners are also starting to see how they can protect themselves from the increasing cost of diesel generation.
Hybrid solutions enable diesel generators to operate lower loads, which reduces operating and maintenance requirements. Solar/diesel/energy storage hybrids work by prioritizing the solar power and only once they drop or become intermittent does the diesel generators get brought back to capacity. Integrating hybrid power solutions, to existing diesel systems, can cut mining companies’ energy costs significantly. Furthermore, they require very little maintenance, helping save mining companies on personnel and resource costs.
Where a mine would previously run on 80% diesel power, for example, this could eventually be reduced down as far as 20%. That said, if black-start is required, diesel generators can be used to get a plant running; or if intermittency (no sun or UV) causes risk to reliability, modular power provides a reliable back-up power source.
