MSU Researchers Link Auto, Dairy Industries to Explore Climate Solutions

Renewable Energy from Dairy Farm Waste to Charge Electric Vehicles

EAST LANSING, Mich. — One of the next climate change solutions might be found at your local dairy farm. A team of MSU researchers are studying ways to generate renewable energy from dairy farm waste to charge electric vehicles (EVs).

Linking Dairy Operations to the Auto Industry

Wei Liao, a professor in MSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) and the director of MSU’s Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center (ADREC), led a demonstration workshop July 19 showcasing the novel research linking dairy operations to the auto industry. He was joined by MSU animal science professor Barry Bradford, BAE professor Ajit Srivastava, dairy farm manager Jim Good and BAE research specialist and ADREC manager Sibel Uludag-Demirer.

Renewable Energy Generation through Anaerobic Digestion

An electric tractor designed by Srivastava was showcased for its ability to operate on renewable electricity generated by a mobile renewable EV charging station with an anaerobic digester and an external combustion engine. Anaerobic digestion is the biological process where organic matter, like animal and food waste, is broken down in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas. The biogas can be burned to generate electricity and heat, or cleaned and used as renewable natural gas.

The Importance of Small and Medium-Sized Dairy Farms

Although economic pressures have prompted part of the U.S. dairy industry to consolidate into large-scale productions, the majority — 90% — still operate at small and medium-sized enterprises of less than 1,000 cows.

Dairy is the leading agricultural commodity in Michigan. The industry accounts for nearly 5% of the state’s gross domestic product with $24 billion generated annually and supports over 111,000 jobs.

Michigan dairy also ranks sixth in U.S. dairy cash receipts, or the total amount of money earned from dairy products.

Implementing Mobile EV Charging Units on Dairy Farms

Liao said his hope is to implement mobile EV charging units on small and medium-sized dairy farms as the state continues shifting toward EV production to reduce carbon emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles. He wants to give farmers in rural communities a way not only to charge their own EVs but also to generate revenue doing it for other’s vehicles.

“We want to use this opportunity to link together the agriculture and auto industry,” Liao said. “They can both benefit from each other.”

Carbon Neutrality and Waste Utilization

Another reason Liao would like to introduce EV units on farms is to help encourage the dairy industry to become carbon neutral or have net zero carbon emissions. He said currently about 45% of the carbon in animal feed ends up in manure and is partially released as methane – a greenhouse gas (if not collected) — into the atmosphere.

If farmers can use the waste for high-value applications, like producing electricity and charging EVs, he said part of the climate problem becomes part of the solution.

“That’s just a win-win,” Liao said. “We can achieve the carbon neutrality of dairy farms and can similarly reduce emissions for the transportation sector.”

MSU’s Anaerobic Digester

MSU converts food and animal organic waste from campus at its South Campus Anaerobic Digester (SCAD). The digester, an above-ground steel tank capable of holding 450,000 gallons, has been in operation since 2013 and has digested roughly 60,000 tons of manure. In 2022, it digested 12,500 tons of manure from the MSU dairy farm and 15,000 tons of food waste from MSU’s cafeterias and the greater Lansing region.

The digester produces about 2.8 million kWh of electricity per year. Ten percent of that energy powers the digester itself, and the rest assists in powering 10 buildings across MSU’s south campus.

The mobile units Liao is working toward installing on small and medium-sized dairy farms won’t be as big and won’t be able to initiate the same amount of power as the SCAD. He said they’ll have the capacity to induce 30 kWh of renewable energy per day, or over 10,950 kWh of energy per year.

Operational Opportunities for Farmers

While that figure won’t be enough power to run an entire farm, Bradford said it could grant farmers different operational opportunities. For example, the energy from these units could charge batteries of emerging electric skid-steer loaders or small low-power tractors used to clean animal pens.

“If you could charge (these tractors) yourself without paying a lot and having to deal with how you’re going to charge them, that could potentially be a game changer for how jobs are done on dairy farms,” said Bradford, whose role on the project is to understand how these units will impact dairy farms.

He also said electric charging stations on dairy farms could bring additional economic opportunities. As EVs become more popular and people look for places to charge them, dairy farms could become a viable option that allow visitors to charge their cars while also experiencing the work of local farms.

“Because it takes a little while to charge EVs, longer than it does to fill a tank of gas, farms can keep visitors occupied by selling them a sandwich or an ice cream cone. Maybe they can do a $5 tour of the farm,” Bradford said. “This could be a more mixed funding model where you have agritourism, energy and — of course — milk.”

Funding and Future Developments

Funding for the projects comes from MSU AgBioResearch, along with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MSU Extension, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture Research Service.

Progress on an Electric Tractor for Small-Scale Farming Use

Alongside the displayed mobile charging unit stood an EV from Bollinger Motors and Srivastava’s electric tractor.

Srivastava, who’s been working on the tractor design since 2021, said it’s a light-duty tractor used for mild cultivation, spraying, and weeding.

Solar power and other forms of renewable energy, like the energy produced from anaerobic digesters, charge the batteries located underneath the tractor.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses generating renewable energy from dairy farm waste to charge electric vehicles, which is connected to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). It also highlights the use of anaerobic digestion, which is an innovative technology related to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The focus on reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action). Additionally, the article mentions the importance of sustainable agricultural practices, which relates to SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods.

The article’s content aligns with these targets as it focuses on increasing the share of renewable energy through anaerobic digestion technology (SDG 7.2). It also highlights the need to upgrade infrastructure in dairy farms to make them more sustainable (SDG 9.4). The integration of climate change measures in the dairy industry’s practices and the aim to achieve carbon neutrality contribute to SDG 13.2. Lastly, the emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices and reducing environmental impact relates to SDG 15.3.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Percentage of renewable energy in the total energy mix
• Number of dairy farms implementing anaerobic digestion technology
• Reduction in carbon emissions from the dairy industry
• Extent of land restoration and improvement in soil quality

While the article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, the progress towards the identified targets can be measured using indicators such as the percentage of renewable energy in the total energy mix, the number of dairy farms implementing anaerobic digestion technology, the reduction in carbon emissions from the dairy industry, and the extent of land restoration and improvement in soil quality resulting from sustainable agricultural practices.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: morningagclips.com

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