MODULE 2: Agricultural Power and Energy

I. DISCUSSION

A.1 Introduction

Farm power is an essential input in agriculture for timely field operations for increasing
production and productivity of land. Farm power is used for operating different types of
machinery like tillage, planting, plant protection, harvesting and threshing machinery and other
stationary jobs like operating irrigation equipment, threshers/shellers/cleaners/graders, etc.

For many developing countries, agriculture is the dominant sector in developing the
economy. Increasing productivity and the modernization of agricultural production systems are
the primary drivers of global poverty reduction and energy plays a key role in achieving this.
Energy input to modern and sustainable agricultural production and processing systems is a key
factor in moving beyond subsistence farming towards food security, added value in rural areas and
expansion into new agricultural markets. In many cases, renewable energy technologies and hybrid
systems can provide energy services that neatly support the production process, e.g. by providing
irrigation (pumps) or post-harvest treatment (cooling) or processing (drying, milling, pressing).
The requirements of mechanical energy in the agricultural production process are also of critical
importance and include human and animal labor as well as fuels for mechanization, pumping and
other activities, and indirectly the production of fertilizers and agrochemicals.

A.2. Sources of Farm Power

There are different sources of farm power available which are classified as:
• Human Power
• Animal Power
• Mechanical Power
• Electrical Power
• Renewable Energy
 1. Human Power

Human power is the main source for operating small implements and tools at the farm.
Stationary work like chaff cutting, lifting water, threshing, winnowing, etc. are also done by
manual labor. An average man can develop maximum power of about 0.1 hp for doing farm work.
Factors affecting human working capacity
• Weather Conditions
• Age
• Gender
• Diseases
• Nature and scope of farm work
• Diet

2. Animal Power

Power developed by an average pair of bullocks about 1 hp for usual farm work.
Bullocks are employed for all types of farm work in all seasons. The average force a draft
animal can exert is nearly one-tenth of its body weight.
3. Mechanical Power

Broadly speaking, mechanical power includes stationary oil engines, tractors,

power tillers and self-propelled combines. Internal combustion engine is a good device for
converting liquid fuel into useful work (mechanical work). Two types of these engines are
spark ignition engines and compression ignition engine. This will be discussed further in
the next module.

4. Electrical Power

Electrical power is used mostly in the form of electrical motors on the farms. Motor
is a very useful machine for farmers. It is clean, quest and smooth running. Its maintenance
and operation needs less attention and care. The operating cost remains almost constant
throughout its life. Electrical power is used for water pumping, dairy industry, cold storage,
farm product processing, fruit industry and many similar things.

5. Renewable Energy
A renewable energy source means energy that is sustainable - something that can't
run out, or is endless, like the sun, wind, biogas, etc. Biogas energy, wind energy and solar
energy are used in agriculture and domestic purposes with suitable devices. Renewable
energy can be used for lighting, cooking, water heating, space heating, water distillation,
food processing, water pumping, and electric generation. This type of energy is
inexhaustible in nature.
Even if the renewable energy resources are distributed throughout the world,
location plays a huge factor when deciding which resource should be applied and in what
level of intensity. Solar and wind energy resources are intermittent in nature – this
indicates that not all resources are suitable for each location, purpose or application. Site-
specific analysis is hence crucial. In case of solar energy, equatorial regions are more
suitable than far northern and southern regions.
TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
• SOLAR ENERGY

By definition solar energy is the conversion of sunlight into usable energy forms.
Sunlight is one of our planet’s most abundant and freely available energy resources. The
amount of solar energy that reaches the earth’s surface in one hour is more than the planet’s
total energy requirements for a whole year. All the energy stored in Earth's reserves of coal,
oil, and natural gas is equal to the energy from only 20 days of sunshine. Although it sounds
like a perfect renewable energy source, the amount of solar energy we can use varies
according to the time of day and the season of the year as well as geographical location.
The main solar technologies are photovoltaics (PV), solar thermal electricity and solar
heating and cooling. For agricultural production and processing solar energy is a crucial
energy source, in particular for irrigation, cooling and drying.
Solar energy can be used in agriculture in a number of ways, saving money,
increasing self-reliance, and reducing pollution. Solar energy can cut a farm's electricity
and heating bills. Solar heat collectors can be used to dry crops and warm homes, livestock
buildings, and greenhouses. Solar water heaters can provide hot water for dairy operations,
pen cleaning, and homes. Photovoltaics (solar electric panels) can power farm operations
and remote water pumps, lights, and electric fences. Buildings and barns can be renovated
to capture natural daylight, instead of using electric lights. Solar power is often less
expensive than extending power lines.

• WIND ENERGY

BURGOS WIND FARM, ILOCOS NORTE, PHILIPPINES. The 150 MW Burgos Wind Farm is the largest wind power project in
Southeast Asia and is located within a 600-hectare site. The facility consists of 50 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 3 MW, generating
electricity to the Luzon Grid.

Wind is a plentiful source of clean energy. To harness electricity from wind energy,
turbines are used to drive generators which then feed electricity into the National Grid.
Although domestic or ‘off-grid’ generation systems are available, not every property is
suitable for a domestic wind turbine.
Wind power in the Philippines makes up a small percentage of the total energy
output of the Philippines. The country wind energy sector has significant potential and
 could provide up to 76GW of power. Some of the most recent developments are the Bangui
Wind Farm, Burgos Wind Farm, and Caparispisan Wind Farm in Ilocos Norte, the Wind
Energy Power System in Oriental Mindoro, San Lorenzo Wind Farm in Guimaras, Nabas
Wind Farm in Aklan and Pililla Wind Farm in Rizal.

• BIOMASS ENERGY

Biomass energy is produced from plants and organic wastes—everything from

crops, trees, and crop residues to manure. Crops grown for energy could be produced in
large quantities, just as food crops are. While corn is currently the most widely used energy
crop, crops and biomass wastes can be converted to energy on the farm or sold to energy
companies that produce fuel for cars and tractors and heat and power for homes and
businesses.

The Philippines has abundant supplies of biomass energy resources in the form
of agricultural crop residues, forest residues, animal wastes, agro-industrial wastes,
municipal solid wastes and aquatic biomass. The most common agricultural wastes are rice
hull, bagasse, cane trash, coconut shell/husk and coconut coir. The use of crop residues as
biofuels is increasing in the Philippines as fossil fuel prices continue to rise. Rice hull is
perhaps the most important, underdeveloped biomass resource that could be fully utilized
in a sustainable manner.

At present, biomass technologies utilized in the country vary from the use of
bagasse as boiler fuel for cogeneration, rice/coconut husks dryers for crop drying, biomass
gasifiers for mechanical and electrical applications, fuelwood and agricultural wastes for
oven, kiln, furnace and cook-stoves for cooking and heating purposes. Biomass
technologies represent the largest installations in the Philippines in comparison with the
other renewable energy, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas abatement technologies.

Biomass energy plays a vital role in the nation’s energy supply. Nearly 30 percent
of the energy for the 80 million people living in the Philippines comes from biomass,
mainly used for household cooking by the rural poor. Biomass energy application accounts
for around 15 percent of the primary energy use in the Philippines. The resources available
in the Philippines can generate biomass projects with a potential capacity of more than 200
MW.

• TIDAL ENERGY
 This is another form of hydro energy that uses twice-daily tidal currents to drive turbine
generators. Although tidal flow unlike some other hydro energy sources isn’t constant, it is
highly predictable and can therefore compensate for the periods when the tide current is low.
Tidal power is non-polluting, reliable and predictable. Tidal barrages, undersea tidal
turbines – like wind turbines but driven by the sea – and a variety of machines harnessing
undersea currents are under development. Unlike wind and waves, tidal currents are entirely
predictable.

• GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

By harnessing the natural heat below the earth’s surface, geothermal energy can be
used to heat homes directly or to generate electricity. The geothermal energy industry in the
Philippines is quite a huge one. In fact it is the largest producer of geothermal power in all of
Asia-Pacific. The country ranks second in the world in terms of geothermal energy production.
Geothermal energy accounts for a major share in the electricity generating technology for
Philippines. In the coming times ahead, the generation of geothermal energy is set to increase
to over 12,000 GWh in 2022.The Philippines is situated in the western flank of the Circum-
Pacific Ring of Fire where numerous active and dormant volcanoes can be found.
The government identifies potential sites of geothermal energy resources where
investors may undertake pre-development or exploration activities and assets belong to private
entities which have identified frontier areas by providing technical assistance in further
determining if these areas warrant the establishment of a power plant.
A.2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Farm Power Sources
Advantages Disadvantages
Human Power
• Easily available • Costliest power compared to all other
• Used for all types of work forms of power
• Very low Efficiency
• Requires full maintenance when not in
use
• Affected by weather condition and
seasons
Animal Power
• Easily available • Not very efficient
• Used for all types of work • Seasons and weather affect the efficiency
• Low initial investment • Cannot work at a stretch
• Supplies manure to the field and fuels to • Requires full maintenance when not in
farmers use
• Lives on farm products • Creates unhealthy and dirty atmosphere
near the residence
• Very slow in doing work
Mechanical Power
• Efficiency is high • Initial capital investment is high
• Not affected by weather • Fuel is costly
• Cannot run at a stretch • Repairs and maintenance needs technical
• Requires less space knowledge
• Cheaper form of power
Electrical Power
• Very cheap form of power • Initial capital investment is high
• High efficiency • Requires good amount of technical
• Can work at a stretch knowledge
• Maintenance and operating cost is very • If handled carelessly, it causes great
low danger
• Not affected by seasons