Agricultural electricity: helping your farms make the transition to renewable energies

Agricultural electricity generation can come from several sources: thee solar, wind or la biomass. When coactivity is made possible and competition between agricultural agricultural production and energy production is limited, the latter the latter provides a solution to the dual challenge of of food and energy sovereignty. In this article, find out how to how to generate additional income for your farm by setting up a source of energy production.

Understanding agricultural electricity

Electricity represents 18% of energy consumption energy consumption according to ADEME. Energy costs account for a significant proportion of their annual expenses, averaging €12,000 a year and representing 10 to 25% of total costs.

To date, fossil fuels fossil fuels the main source of energy source of energy for farmsEnergy prices are becoming scarcer and more volatile, which can have a negative impact on the farm's economic performance.

The agricultural sector also has an impact on the environment, and is simultaneously threatened by the consequences of climate change. The agriculture-forestry sector is responsible for around 20% of France's greenhouse gas emissions (ADEME). It is the second largest emitting sector. It is therefore is to combine agriculture and renewable energy production to limit its carbon footprint.

Renewable energies in agriculture

The different sources of renewable energy

Means of producing energy from renewable sources sources in agriculture are numerous and can be adapted to different types of farms and crops.

Solar energy

The production of electricity from solar energy is becoming increasingly widespread in the agricultural world. It can be photovoltaic with, for example :

  • The installation of solar panels on roofs for hangars and other buildings.
  • The installation of a ground-mounted photovoltaic power plant on uncultivable land.
  •  

It can also be agrivoltaicIn this case, the aim is to provide a solution that combines agricultural protection and energy production. Agrivoltaics can be adapted to a wide range of crops and livestock, offering different technologies for installing photovoltaic panels, with the primary aim of bringing agronomic and climatic services to farms to protect and even improve agricultural yields. The electricity produced is then fed back into the distribution grid or used for local consumption on the farm.

Wind power

Wind energy is a source of energy thatcaptured by wind turbinesmore commonly known as wind turbiness, transform the force of the wind into electricity. Wind turbines can be installed on agricultural plots, and the electricity they generate is fed into transmission or distribution grids. Wind power helps to diversify diversification of local energy mix and boosting the competitiveness of farms by providing them with stable additional income.

Biomass

biomass on agricultural land

There are several processes for transform biomassorganic matter of animal, vegetable or bacterial origin, into energy. One of these processes, which can be found on a farm, is methanization. It fermentation of biomass to produce :

  • From digestatea non-degraded organic material that can later be used as fertilizer
  • From biogasis then used to produce energy in the form of biomethane, electricity, heat or biofuel.

Methanization can therefore be used to agricultural effluents while producing renewable energy. However, it must not fail to meet a number of challenges: limiting competition with food production, reducing environmental impact and structuring local value-added supply chains.

The benefits of renewable energy for farms

Renewable energy productions production on a farm, as a complement to agricultural activity, can lead to income diversification or greater energy self-sufficiency, and thus to greater economic resilience..

Implementing renewable energy solutions

Integrating renewable energies into farm operations

The installation of renewable energy production facilities on farms is specific to the different specific to the different configurations, needs and challenges needs and challenges. However, it always includes :

  • L'estimating energy requirements needs
  • A feasibility study and selection of appropriate technologies
  • Visit planning andinstallation.

To find out more, get in touch with your local energy advisors (Chambers of Agriculture, for example).

Setting up an agrivoltaic solution: how does it work?

Agrivoltaics is one of the renewable energy sources that competes least with agricultural production. At Ombrea and TotalEnergies, the design of agrivoltaic installations is conceived to respect agricultural activity. We therefore follow several key stages:

  • During theagronomic study we assess the needs of species and crops to determine the potential services to be provided and the climatic conditions suited to their development.
  • During the design and and project design and dimensioning, we use in-house design tools to select the technology best suited to the crop or livestock, but also to the farm machinery and crop itinerary.
  • Finally, our modeling tools simulate the benefits benefits of installing of an agrivoltaic technology on a given plot of land. This modeling takes into account all the characteristics of the area concerned by the project, in order to optimize both the services rendered to crops and the production of solar energy.

Once the project design has been completed, TotalEnergies' local teams will develop the project:

  • First, we go through the various the various permit applications required to develop an agrivoltaic project. Contractualization and project development can take between 2 and 4 years.
  • Finally, we can move on to the construction phase and of commissioning of the plant. The operating phase, governed by the APER law can last up to 40 years. During this period, ADEME will monitor agricultural and energy production on an annual basis.

"10 questions about agrivoltaics - The new Ombrea white paper!

Aids and subsidies for farmers

What assistance is available?

The installation of renewable energy production capacity on farms is supported by the public authorities. As a result, farms wishing to take the plunge are eligible for a variety of grants and subsidies.

First of all, an energy diagnosis is offered by ADEME. This approach, which can lead to up to 50% savings on a site, aims to :

  • Take stock of your energy consumption.
  • Recommend the most effective and profitable actions to be taken to reduce energy consumption.
  • Prioritize actions according to return on investment time and ease of implementation.

ADEME is also proposing a complementary study of energy solutions. It aims to identify the renewable energy source best suited to your site's needs, and to validate the relevance of investing in this solution.

Depending on the type of renewable energy source, the Chambers of Agriculture can offer investment assistance :

  • A Plan de Compétitivité et d'Adaptation des Exploitations Agricoles (PCAEA) energy-climate component (412)
  • An agricultural eco-premium: Energy Savings Certificates negotiated with energy suppliers for certain investments (energy-saving fans, heat exchangers, etc.).
  • A Biogas Plan
  • Photovoltaic solar self-consumption investment incentive

Local, municipal and regional subsidies are also available for farmers.

To find out more, please contact :

  • The town hall of the commune where your farm is located
  • Your community of communes
  • Your local department and/or your region
  • Your chamber of agriculture

Practical advice for farmers

Optimizing energy consumption

Several techniques are available to optimize energy consumption on your farm. By way ofexamplepleyou will find below recommendations from the des Chambres d'Agriculture de Bretagne :

reduce energy consumption on the farm

So there are many solutions and options for setting up an energy-saving or energy-producing project on a farm. If you want to make your energy transition by turning toagrivoltaics, don't hesitate to contact Ombrea teams for help with this new project!

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