Energy savings in plant production
¹Department of Agrotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 28, 00014 Helsinki,
Finland; e-mail: tapani.jokiniemi@helsinki.fi; hannu.j.mikkola@helsinki.fi;
jukka.ahokas@helsinki.fi
²Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life
Science, Kreutzwaldi 1, EE51014 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: helis.rossner@emu.ee;
liina.talgre@emu.ee; enn.lauringson@emu.ee
³Institute of Technology, Estonian University of Life Science, Kreutzwaldi 56,
EE51014 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: mart.hovi@emu.ee
Abstract:
At the moment energy costs in agriculture are relatively low compared to other costs. In 2010 energy costs were 10% of the total agricultural costs in Finland. However, energy costs are expected to grow. The EU has made a directive on Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services, which claims that agriculture must save 9% of their average energy consumption of the period 2001–2005. The highest energy consumptions in plant production originate from agro-chemicals (fertilizers, lime and pesticides). However, regarding energy statistics, energy consumption for agrochemicals is allocated to the industrial sector. Chemicals are for this reason seen as indirect energy in agriculture. Direct energy input in agriculture consists of fuels and electricity. The most dominating direct energy input in plant production is diesel and heating oil. Energy consumption can be easily decreased in plant production by some 10–30%. For instance, 10–20% of energy can be saved in grain drying by heat insulation. In machine operations the dominating factor in energy consumption is the driver. With properly implemented maintenance and adjustment and efficient driving habits, 10–30% savings can be achieved
Key words:
agriculture., energy, plant production