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Find Out How to Reduce Fuel Costs by 50% at Horticulture 2012
- 13 September 2012
Nigel Moore and Cathal Ellis, CAFRE discuss the energy and greenhouse gas emission savings resulting from the woodchip boiler at the glasshouse complex of the Horticulture Development Centre at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus
Energy costs make up a major element of the variable costs of any production or manufacturing based business. With the ever diminishing supplies of fossil fuels on the world market, all projections are for a continued rise in energy costs. Some industry analysts have indicated that an annual increase of 8% would be conservative. In addition, businesses will come under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of the drive to minimise climate change.
This year, the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is celebrating the centenary of its Greenmount Campus, near Antrim. To mark this historic anniversary, the College is running a series of tailored industry events throughout the year, in support of agri-food businesses. On Wednesday 19 September 2012, a one day technical event incorporating seminars and a trade exhibition will be held at Greenmount Campus under the title of ‘Horticulture 2012’. The seminar programme will cover a wide range of topics directed at the amenity and commercial horticulture sectors.
Reflecting the need to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, the potential of renewable energy technologies to meet these requirements will be one of the themes of the suite of technical seminars to be held at ‘Horticulture 2012’. There are many technologies available in the marketplace such as biomass boilers, solar thermal and photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines and heat pumps.
At CAFRE, considerable experience has been gained with various renewable energy technologies and in the Horticulture unit, the biomass boiler alone has reduced annual heating costs by over 50 percent. Nigel Moore, Senior Renewable Energy Technologist at CAFRE will deliver a short seminar on the potential for reducing energy costs and improving competitiveness by utilising energy produced from renewable sources. In addition to the potential cost savings, he will refer to the associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint.
The ‘Horticulture 2012’ event runs from 11.00 am until 9.00 pm on Wednesday 19 September 2012.
Source: DARD - Find Out How to Reduce Fuel Costs by 50% at Horticulture 2012
