Res4live

A project to decarbonize livestock farms

Overview

Consortium

Budget and duration

MG Contribution

The Role of MG in this project is to design and integrate 3 PVT (Photovoltaic-Thermal) systems for 3 pilot farms with a standardized design. Each farm has different characteristics and uses 3 different types of PVT collectors (uninsulated, insulated, concentrating) depending on the need. Participating in this high-technology EU project allows MG to radically improve its knowledge on PVT technology and integration as well as smart energy control techniques in the context of farming applications. Additionally, by participating in this consortium MG will receive feedback from cooperative parties and collaborate on increasing the use of solar thermal and PVT technologies in agriculture settings. The goal is to demonstrate the huge potential and impact on cost-savings for livestock farms when using solar systems in combination with other renewable energy technologies such as heat pumps and geothermal storage. This will increase credibility and allow access to valuable state-of-the-art scientific know-how and market intelligence to further aid in MG’s goal of increasing PVT market penetration.

Progress and Impact

Currently, the solar system designs of all 3 pilot farms have been completed, and they have all been installed and working as should. We are now monitoring the systems, gatherings data and if needed, optimising the control system for each of the installations. All installations have 24 collectors so comparisons can be done between the different PVT technologies used. All electricity generated by the PVTs are completely being used by the farm.

Golinelli Swine Farm (Mirandola, Italy)

System Information: Uninsulated Samster PVT delivering low-temperature heat to borehole thermal energy storage. A Heat pump delivers final energy to the farm from heat stored in the boreholes. The heat is used for space heating.
Total Peak Thermal Power: 24 kW (1 kW / Collector)
Total Peak Electric Power: 7.6 kW (320W / Collector)
Aperture Area: 45.6 m²

LVAT Cattle Farm (Potsdam, Germany)

System Information: Concentrating Solarus PVT with bifacial PV cells delivering high-temperature heat to a 1500L storage tank integrated with the milk recovery system of the milk chillers. The storage is also used to store excess heat from the milk recovery system with intelligent control. The heat is used for domestic hot water in cleaning the milk tanks and the barn.
Total Peak Thermal Power: 37 kW (1.54 kW / Collector)
Total Peak Electric Power: 5.4 kW (240W / Collector)
Aperture Area: 55.4 m²

LVAT (Teaching and Research Station for Animal Breeding and Husbandry e.V. Groß Kreutz/Ruhlsdorf) is a research institute dealing with animal production of dairy and suckler cows, pigs, sheep, and goats. In addition to productive animal husbandry, the facility also provides information on the use of renewable energies.

Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) is an independent scientific research institute of Flanders’ Government. ILVO’s task is to generate knowledge for more sustainability in the agriculture, fisheries and agri-food sectors.

ILVO Swine Farm (Mirandola, Italy)

System Information: Insulated high performing Abora aH72 PVTs delivering medium-temperature heat to an 800L storage tank. Two heat pumps deliver final heat to the farm for domestic hot water and space heating for the piglets. The heat pumps upgrade the heat from the PVT system storage tank to run as efficiently as possible.
Total peak thermal power: 29 kW (1.2 kW/Collector)
Peak electric Power: 8.4 kW (350W / Collector)
Aperture Area: 45.1 m²

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101000785

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