Renewable energy on farms
Find resources to help you generate and use renewable energy on your farm.
Overview
Farms use energy for heating, machinery and equipment like fans, pumps, augers and motors. Renewable energy provides a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In many cases, you can grow or produce these fuels right on the farm.
Crop drying
Drying crops helps prevent spoilage and preserve quality but uses a lot of energy. Learn how to reduce energy use when drying crops:
- Reducing energy use in grain dryers
- Natural-air grain drying
- Grain aeration
- Constructing a barn hay dryer
Solid fuels and biomass
Renewable energy is a clean, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels such as propane, natural gas, diesel or heating oil. Many farmers generate renewable heat and electricity through biomass, biogas, solar and micro-hydro systems.
If you have access to suitable feedstock, along with a place to store it, biomass combustion systems can be cost-effective alternatives to fossil fuels. However, solid fuel systems need more maintenance and fuel handling management.
Anaerobic digestion and biogas production
You can turn organic waste into clean, renewable energy using a biogas system. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supports energy needs on your farm.
- Anaerobic digestion
- Anaerobic digestion basics
- Energy yields from a farm-based anaerobic digestion system
- Regulatory requirements for regulated mixed anaerobic digestion facilities
- Hydrogen sulphide in agricultural biogas systems
- Decommissioning on-farm biogas systems
- Producing biomethane and renewable natural gas (RNG) from farm and food-based biogas systems
- Vehicle conversion to natural gas or biogas
Liquid biofuels
In some cases, small-scale biodiesel can be produced from plant or animal oils on your farm. This may help reduce your use of fossil fuels, depending on costs and available feedstock.
Solar energy
Use solar energy to power your farm buildings and equipment.
Wind energy
Use wind power to generate electricity and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.