By M. Charles Gould
Are you considering a small wind project (less than 100 kW) for your farm? Or are you looking for guidance on choosing a solar photovoltaic system for your farm? If your answer is yes to either question, you’ll want to attend the Powering Michigan Agriculture Conference on Thursday, March 9, at the Kellogg Center on the campus of Michigan State University.
Converting wind energy into electricity that makes sense economically for farmers is the general theme for the presentations that will be given by F. John Hay, an extension educator specializing in small wind energy with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Biological Systems Engineering. Topics he will cover include turbine performance, determining the value of electricity, and small wind turbine economics. Farmers who attend Mr. Hay’s presentations will leave armed with practical information they can use to select the right small wind system for their farm.
The price of solar panels has gone down while the quality of electricity generation from solar panels has increased, making solar-generated electricity worth looking at for a farm wanting to reduce its electrical bills. Eric Romich, an Assistant Professor and Energy Development Field Specialist with Ohio State University Extension, will help farmers take a critical look at the investment required for an on-farm solar electric system. Topics he will cover include estimating system production, forecasting the value of electricity, and conducting a financial analysis. Farmers will leave with practical knowledge they can use to determine if a solar photovoltaic system is a sound investment for them.
Register for the conference, view a conference schedule, or read a description of what each speaker will be discussing online. Online registration closes Sunday, March 5. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. The registration fee is $40 per person or $75 for two individuals from the same farm. The registration fee gives attendees access to vendors, speakers, educational material and includes lunch.
Source:msu.edu