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Back to Basics: Focus on Heating Fuel Costs - Poultry Farms (Broilers)

emma8807

Updated: Jan 31

To most effectively compare and contrast fuel types to heat poultry farms, it’s essential to get back to basics. It’s important to understand the heat energy input required for modern broiler production.


The model below compares and contrasts a variety of fuel types available for poultry farms.

The p/kWh (pence per kilowatt hour) column gives a direct comparison between fuels (assuming a similar boiler efficiency).


The annual heat usage in £/yr is based on actual data from average farms, (6.5 crop cycles/yr) and a higher user (7.8 crop cycles/yr). No heat recovery in this model.



Key points

  • The red column shows the start contrast between LPG some of the lower cost biomass fuels

  • When calculating annual Greenhouse Gas Emission figures, all the biomass fuels are significantly lower than fossil fuels (and have been for the last 10 years)

  • All fossil fuels are likely to see a carbon tax, or levy of some kind, during the next 12 months


Choosing a fuel source

There are many factors to consider when selecting fuel sources - not just fuel input cost. CFE can assist with modelling all types of scenarios, including annual carbon reductions.


In some regions, local authority planning departments now require detailed plans for the disposal of manure as a condition of planning. This will no doubt be adopted UK-wide over time. 


This means that utilising waste manure as biomass fuel not only provides an effective and renewable source of energy, but also creates manure disposal plan: unlocking planning potential, and efficiently heating your poultry farm.


Working example

A typical 5-shed broiler farm may produce 2,800 tonnes of manure per year. One energy solution could be a gasifier, providing heat and maybe some electrical power (depending on moisture content and energy value).


Gasification would result in ~600 tonnes of ash or biochar, which has a value and provides an opportunity of an additional income stream from carbon credits.


If the same farm has a robust outlet for the manure, then a straw or waste wood boiler system could be an energy solution, alongside heat recovery.

 

For further information on CFE’s carbon and fuel cost modelling services, please visit our website’s Services page: https://www.cfeng.co.uk/our-services

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