Concept of renewable energies for security of energy supply system of a food pruduction plant in Nicaragua.
Abstract
A big problem for the economic development of Nicaragua (Central America) poses the bad and above all insecure energy supply. The use of renewable energies could reduce this problem. The solution by using alternative energy sources is tested on a dairy farm. This dairy farm is located in a region dominated by cattle breeding and represents the only hy-genically safe processing plant and economically stable employer. The accepted milk is daily processed to products of the white and yellow dairy segment. The necessary continuous en-ergy supply is currently not provided due to very frequent power black outs. These black outs have to be compensated by diesel generators, representing a very expensive and energy—policy wise not sensible solution in the long term. In order to solve the problem of insufficient energy supplies the owner considered the use of alternative energy sources (solar energy, wind energy, biogas) as well as the feeding of excess energy into the public electric power net. Despite the willingness to invest, this idea had to be discarded repeatedly because no reliable data existed with regards to the installation of such energy plants. Additionally the country lacks serious providers in the field of erecting alternative energy power plants In cooperation with the dairy farm owner a well founded concept shall be developed offering the possibility to solve the energy problem in the mid term, if possible with Austrian know how and technologies. This aim will be achieved by a step wise approach. Starting with a specific literature search covering similar situations possible solutions and possible problems will be identified. By measuring the current situation of the energy supply (flow of energy, flow of matter), by in-stalling and putting into action measuring devices at the dairy farm and by performing a pre-liminary data analysis in Vienna the first draft of an energy concept – as close to reality as possible – is formulated. This draft will then be presented to and discussed with the owner and the local population, and by this its acceptance will be tested. These results as well as the integration of up to date climate data, gained during the second visit, are considered to enable the modification of the energy concept in order to obtain a proposal for a viable technical solution including a cost benefit analysis.
keywords renewable energy energy system food technology
Publikationen
Project staff
Herbert Weingartmann
Ao.Univ.Prof.i.R. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Herbert Weingartmann
herbert.weingartmann@boku.ac.at
BOKU Project Leader
01.11.2008 - 31.10.2010