Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Minutes are included in the enclosed full report PDF.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The objectives of this regional project are to:

1. Prepare a survey report on the "regional farm energy status and outlook"

2. Identify research, education, and extension opportunities and needs for the topic of farm energy

3. Prepare joint proposals for funded projects in farm energy research, education, and Extension Annual accomplishments are reported for each experiment station.

EXPERIMENT STATION: CONNECTICUT

Objective 1: Survey Report
No accomplishments to report.
Objective 2: Identify Opportunities
The Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station at University of Connecticut has supported studies on sustainable farm energy production and use. The current study focuses on the development of the so-called GREENBOX technology for urban agriculture. Specific objectives include
1. To determine whether the GREENBOX can provide the required environmental conditions year around;
2. To determine how the energy and water use as well as plant growth in the GREENBOX system in comparison with that in a greenhouse; and
3. To assess the financial feasibility of the GREENBOX.
Laboratory studies and analysis have been conducted in the past three (3) years at Storrs, Connecticut with protocol GREENBOXES and experimental greenhouses for growing lettuce. Results indicate that the newly proposed GREENBOX system can produce healthy lettuce crops in all four seasons with high productivity. The energy and water use are more effective compared to widely used glasshouses, and the inside environment conditions are much less variable. The benefit-cost analysis revealed that GREENBOX is financially feasible over various scenarios of different input parameters and can be used in major cities across the United States. The GREENBOX system can be used individually, or in any combination from a few to a very large number (say thousands) to meet different building configurations and economic goals. We find that the GREENBOX system is technically and financially feasible and can be used to produce fresh vegetables in urban areas with less resources and more control technologies.
Objective 3: Joint Proposals
A new proposal entitled “GREENBOX horticulture: A simulation study for optimization in system design and operation” has been funded by USDA Hatch funds.

EXPERIMENT STATION: ILLINOIS

Objective 1: Survey Report
No accomplishments to report.
Objective 2: Identify Opportunities
Construction of a new 54-acre, 12.32 MW(dc) Solar Farm 2.0 was started in July 2020. The overall project was completed by the end of 2020 and it has been operational since January 2021. Solar Farm 2.0 produced approximately 19,467 MWh in the first full year (6/30/21-6/30/22). All of the electricity generated by Solar Farm 2.0 are used exclusively by the Urbana campus, making the University of Illinois the third-largest user of renewable power produced on campus for all higher education facilities in the entire country.
Other innovative features of Solar Farm 2.0 include the incorporation of a pollinator habitat located beneath the panels. Indigenous plants will be planted throughout the farm to welcome local and migratory birds and insects. Specifically targeted towards butterflies and bees, Solar Farm 2.0 will be a welcoming environment for wildlife, as well as being a demonstration site for meeting the requirements of the Pollinator Friendly Solar Site Act.
A U of I extension team wrapped up the Smart Meter/ Energy Efficiency Education grant at the end of 2021. The project had been funded for calendar years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The goal had been to increase energy and smart grid knowledge across the state. Hard to reach low-income, seniors, and rural residence were defined as the primary audience for this statewide effort.
A team comprised of two campus researchers and two extension staff members continued the work on an Extension Collaboration Grant for a geothermal information project. The project goal is to develop a technical and outreach program that supports wider adoption of geothermal energy systems in Illinois. A decision support tool to assist decision makers and stakeholders in implementing geothermal energy for long-term solutions is currently under final stages of development. The decision support tool will link existing geological data at the university to industry design systems improving system performance while reducing initial cost in many cases. The group hosted several one hour webinars about various aspects and opportunities for geothermal as part of this project. The team plans additional webinars and in-person seminars as part of the rollout of the decision tool and associated web pages.
A $10 million, four-year project - SCAPES (Sustainably Colocating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems) was funded through the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Sustainable Agriculture Systems program. This project will study agrivoltaics in a variety of land types and climate scenarios (Illinois, Colorado, Arizona). It is led by Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) at the University of Illinois. SCAPES project will provide a comprehensive analysis of the transformative potential of agrivoltaics. The goal is to maintain or even increase crop yield, increase the combined (food and electricity) productivity of land, and diversify and increase farmers’ profits with row crops, forage, and specialty crops across a range of environments.
Objective 3: Joint Proposals
None

EXPERIMENT STATION: MICHIGAN

Objective 1: Survey Report
No accomplishments to report.
Objective 2: Identify Opportunities
A variety of needs-based extension and on-farm research work related to farm energy issues have been identified and events organized/planned. For example,
• MSU extension is organizing a conference “Michigan Ag Ideas to grow ” with education sessions planned on several ag-voltaic topics including: Agrivoltaics – the future of farming?, Pollinator habitat in solar energy sites, and Conservation cover in solar energy sites.
• A report titled “Planning & Zoning for Solar energy Systems: A guide for Michigan local governments,” was published.
• Implementation of 6th USDA-REAP Energy Audit/Renewable Energy Assessment project.
• Offering no-cost farm energy audits in partnership with cost share from Michigan Utilities.
• Field testing of a prototype system to mitigate the huge start-up energy draw of large electric motors and improve energy efficiency in motors with a low-cost alternative to variable frequency drives.
• Consultations with industry and state entities in response to a Dept of Energy (DOE) needs identification for current and future solar workforce training.
• Participation in Michigan Agricultural Energy Council (MAEC), in providing a trusted “third party” platform that brings farm organizations and utilities together to tackle energy issues and challenges facing the agricultural sector.
• Charles Gould was a member of the organizing committee for the 2022 National Extension Conference on Energy Efficiency.
Objective 3: Proposals
A number of proposals/ preproposals were submitted during this period but unfortunately, none were funded.
• Joint pre-proposal with Virginia Tech titled “Agrivoltaics in Virginia for Existing and Future Utility-scale PV: Applying, Developing, and Expanding the Adoption of New Practices “ submitted to DOE Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) RFP
• MSU preproposal titled “System-scale Optimization of Commercial Agrivoltaic Solutions for Pasture-based Dairy Farms” to DOE Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) RFP
• MSU proposal titled “Sustainable agricultural mobility technology for specialty crop production,” submitted to Michigan Economic Development Corporation
• MSU proposal titled “Solar Energy Systems for Sustainable Fruit and Vineyard Production in Michigan,” submitted to Project GREEEN.

EXPERIMENT STATION: NEW JERSEY

Objective 1: Survey Report
Two book chapters titled “Energy Efficiency - Greenhouse Energy Management” and “On-Farm Energy Production - Solar, Wind, Geothermal” were published as part of our committee’s efforts to report on the regional farm energy status and outlook.
Objective 2: Identify Opportunities
The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program has been approached by the NJ Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) about an advisory role the program can have with regard to the state mandated Dual-Use Pilot Program (i.e., agrivoltaics). The NJBPU is looking for expert input for the design and implementation of this three-year 200 MW program (extendable to five years and up to 300 MW).
Objective 3: Proposals
The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program submitted a $2M proposal to the US Department of Energy FARMS program. The proposal was a joint effort in collaboration with American Farmland Trust, Delaware State University and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Whether our proposal will be recommended for funding is unknown at the time of writing.
The NJBPU is also soliciting a proposal from the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program to conduct research at the Pilot Program farms because it is mandated in the regulations that University-based research be performed as part of the Pilot Program.

EXPERIMENT STATION: PENNSYLVANIA

Objective 1: Survey Report
The volume has been published by Springer Science as an academic book. Contents consist of the following:
1. Energy Use on the Farm
D. Ciolkosz, A. Go
2. Energy Efficiency - Smart Metering
E. Johnstonbaugh, X. Wang
3. Energy Efficiency - Equipment Use and Installation
S. Sanford, A. Go
4. Energy Efficiency - Field Operations
S. Sanford, A. Go
5. Energy Efficiency - Dairy Operations
S. Sanford, A. Go
6. Energy Efficiency - Livestock Housing Operations
S. Sanford, A. Go
7. Energy Efficiency - Fruit and Vegetable Storage
S. Sanford, A. Go
8. Energy Efficiency - Grain Drying
S. Sanford, A. Go
9. Energy Efficiency - Irrigation
S. Sanford, A. Go
10. Energy Efficiency - Maple Syrup
S. Sanford, A. Go
11. Energy Efficiency - Greenhouses
A. Both
12. On-Farm Energy Production - Solar, Wind, Geothermal
A. Both
13. On-Farm Energy Production - Biomass Thermal
E. Johnstonbaugh
14. On Farm Energy Production - Biogas
A. Hassanein, S. Lansing, E. Keller
15. On-Farm Energy Production - Biofuels
D. Ciolkosz, M. Steiman
Penn State's component included overall editing of the volume and authorship or co-authorship of chapters 1, 2, 13 and 15.
Objective 2: Identify Opportunities
The topic of sustainable farm electrification has cropped up as a topic of potential value for investigation, and will be broached at the 2022 team meeting.
Objective 3: Joint Proposals
Team members participated in several project proposals:
• Willow Debarking (D Ciolkosz): USDA AFRI, two proposals were submitted, teaming with SUNY ESF (Kumar, Volk). Proposed research on processing of short rotation willow.
• Mushroom Energy and Carbon (D Ciolkosz): USDA NIFA. Proposed research and extension on developing carbon-neutral strategies for mushroom farming.
• Biogas in the Ukraine (D Ciolkosz): CRDF. Proposed support of development of a biogas research effort at university in Ukraine.
• BMPs for Solar Farm Development (S Fathel): NFWF. Proposed online course for Chesapeake Bay-targeted best management practices in solar farm development, submitted with VA Tech (Ignosh).
Other accomplishments that do not necessarily relate to the NECC-1501 Multistate Research Project objectives:
Wood Innovation Grant (Johnstonbaugh, Ciolkosz, Musgrave): Penn State Extension continued pursuing a demonstration test of biochar addition to a municipal wastewater treatment plant.
MASBio (Ciolkosz, Johnstonbaugh, Musgrave, Wurzbacher): In this AFRI CAP project, involving multiple institutions, extension, research and education efforts were launched related to biomass production on marginal lands, and biochar manufacture. Energy is a component of this effort, but not the primary focus.
C-Change Grass to Gas (Ciolkosz, Fathel, Johnstonbaugh): In this AFRI CAP led by Iowa State, education, extension and research efforts were undertaken to develop scenarios for enhanced biogas production from the use of perennial grasses, grown in ecologically strategic locations on farms.
National Energy Extension Summit (Ciolkosz, Johnstonbaugh, Wurzbacher): Penn State hosted the National Energy Extension Summit / National Sustainability Summit on May 15-18 2022 in State College, PA. Many NECC-2001 committee members were involved in the planning of this event.
Student Research: Completed and ongoing student research projects of relevance to Farm Energy Production and Use include:
- Wheat Straw Torrefaction and Conversion (B Memis, J Tripathi, D Ciolkosz)
- Biomass Sorption (A Arya, J Tripathi, D Ciolkosz)
- Biomass Pelleting (Y Li, K Lopez, D Ciolkosz)
- Biogas from Cellulosic Feedstock (M McVey, D Ciolkosz)
- Biomass pelleting of ag waste (M Asif, D Ciolkosz)
Support for these projects was provided by ongoing grants, College of Agricultural Science research funds, and the Graves Extension Endowment.
Farm Energy Course (Fathel): Course which focuses on biorenewable energy sources derived from farms at Penn State University. A key component of this course is a semester long energy audit project, wherein teams of students perform energy audits local farms or businesses following ASABE Standards. This is a required course for undergraduate students in the BioRenewable Systems major.

EXPERIMENT STATION: MARYLAND

Objective 1: Survey Report
No accomplishments to report.
Objective 2: Identify Opportunities
The Maryland team has been working with on-farm energy efficiency and conservation.
• The Maryland team facilitated a series of hands-on training and educational workshops throughout Maryland to support a documented need for energy education in Maryland related to on-farm solar photovoltaics (PV) or agricultural solar. A total of 179 farmers
and agricultural service providers participated in one of the ten educational workshops to learn about the options, opportunities and challenges associated with on-farm solar PV to support farm sustainability. Training addressed the basic principles of solar PV technology; an exploration of appropriate on-farm applications; the basic principles of electricity, PV components, and system design; and an overview of solar contracts and leasing options relevant to Maryland farmers.
• The Maryland team is producing supplemental training videos, and a series of related factsheets, to support hands-on training with solar PV. A total of 17 videos have been produced in this series with 88,000 views in total. These resources explore various tips and tools for working with solar photovoltaics, including an overview on how to assess solar module output; load and site assessments; wiring and OCPDs; series and parallel configurations; battery backup; and inverter integration.
The University of Maryland team has been working with farmers in implementing anaerobic digestion technology for dairy and poultry famers, as well as biochar production from poultry manure.
• The Maryland team has worked with a dairy farm in Cecil County, MD to monitor their anaerobic digestion manure and food waste co-digestion system with solid separation and composting. Future extension efforts will focus on helping farmers navigate power purchase agreements and understanding opportunities with food waste co-digestion. Work funded under Maryland Department of Agriculture.
• The Maryland team is evaluating the feasibility of animal waste technologies, including anaerobic digestion, gasification, pyrolysis, and will assess greenhouse gas emissions associated with these technologies, barriers to adoption, market assessments of their feasibility, and how to incorporate environmental justice in project citing, implementation, and operation. Work funded under Maryland Department of Agriculture.
• The Maryland team is conducting a study using poultry litter biochar for plant production and understanding the markets and sustainability associated with biochar utilization. Specifically, the project is looking at ornamental plant production using biochar to replace phosphorus fertilizer and growing turf grass with biochar amendments.
• The Maryland team is providing third-party verification for a digestion system on the Maryland Eastern Shore that is piloting a poultry litter-based, solid-state digestion systems conducted as a batch process, with post-digestion nutrient recovery. Work funded under Maryland Energy Administration.
• The Maryland team is working on reducing antimicrobial resistance through integration of engineering and social science, Dr Lansing team lead a multi-million USDA grant that developed a new method for antibiotic detection in manure and determined the effect of advanced treatment technologies, such as anaerobic digestion and composting, on resistance. Work funded under USDA-NIFA.
Objective 3: Proposals
• None

EXPERIMENT STATION: VIRGINIA

Objective 1: Survey Report
No accomplishments to report.
Objective 2: Identify Opportunities
A variety of needs-based extension and on-farm research work related to farm energy issues have been identified, including through the following sponsored projects:
• Mountains to Bay Grazing Alliance: Technology Transfer for Transportable Solar-Powered Water Pumping Systems, Sub-award from Chesapeake Bay Foundation. National Fish & Wildlife Foundation 11/18-12/22
• “A Better Solar “Panel” from Virginia Tech”, CALS – Virginia Tech 3/21-6/22
• “Keeping on the Sunny Side with On-Farm Solar Applications”, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, 4/1-6/23
• “Techno-Economic Analysis for On-farm Poultry Litter-to-Energy Systems”, Conservation Innovation Grant - Pennsylvania NRCS. 8/22-8/25
Objective 3: Proposals
• Joint pre-proposal with Michigan State University titled “Agrivoltaics in Virginia for Existing and Future Utility-scale PV: Applying, Developing, and Expanding the Adoption of New Practices” submitted to DOE Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) Concept Note (not funded)