Local Energy Farm Demonstration Project

Energy Farm Demonstration Project: An Overview

In February 2006 Post Carbon Institute initiated a project in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Working on up to two acres of UBC Farm land, this experimental project will test different energy crops, refine harvesting and processing techniques and evaluate varied sources of alternative energy. The demonstration is projected to last at least five years, after an initial one-year trial period.

The CSFS Program and Production Coordinators, as well as a variety of organizations working with the centre are providing supporting information, resources and tools for the project.

Current overview

up to two acres of land, in up to three separate plots: The land will be used in a number of different crop ratios including 60-30-10 (compost crops, energy crops, food crops).

Compost Crops

- It is intended that a portion of the land will be used for compost crops to help maintain soil fertility. These crops (and other biomass such as blackberry bushes and various prolific weeds) may also be used to feed a biogas digester, which produces methane and improves the compost. The nutrient loop will be kept as closed as possible, so that crop and other organic residues will be returned to the soil wherever possible.

- Plots will be farmed using intensive hand cultivation methods, adapting many techniques common to the French Intensive, “Grow Biointensive” and Permaculture production principles. Techniques will be modified as necessary to best fit the local agro-ecological context.

Energy Crops

- Energy crops such as oilseeds and Jerusalem artichokes for the production of liquid biofuels through various types of processing.

- Energy production from crops will be carbon neutral. Carbon from atmospheric CO₂ will be absorbed by the biomass during the growing phase and equal amounts of carbon (in the form of CO₂) will be returned to the atmosphere when the resultant fuel is used.

- Wind power: We propose wind power generation from vertical axis turbines, which will be made locally, working in conjunction variously with UBC engineering professors, Post Carbon Institute Energy Panel Advisor Tony Duggleby of Katabatic Power and other local engineers. If successful, Local Post Carbon Groups will be encouraged to build similar devices.

- Solar power: generated from solar PV (photovoltaic) panels, donated by Day 4 Energy, a local and highly innovative solar photovoltaic cell & panel producer. The panels will be mounted on the roof of a Farm building. The Day4Energy panels employ a new system of copper conductors on the cell face which improves performance, especially when using solar concentrators.

- Water power: Waste water and rainwater run-off from the southern end of the UBC campus has the possibility of powering a water turbine. This feasibility of this is being actively investigated in collaboration with Professor Robert Millar of the Civil Engineering department.

- The ecological footprints of each of these alternative energy sources will be investigated and analyzed.

Food Crops

- We are examining growing an experimental nutritional garden and/or growing crops to be sold at the UBC market (with proceeds returning to the farm).

- Food Crop planning will be based around a nutritionally complete vegetarian diet that would feed one adult for one year.

An ambient energy monitor streams live data from farm site available at:

http://energyfarm.postcarbon.org/Current_Plus.htm

Short Term Goals

Gather materials and tools needed on the farm site itself

Determine the most suitable energy crops to plant with a focus on diversity and suitability

Recruit and coordinate the volunteer effort that will be required to begin the initial working of the land including staking the plots, soil preparation, seeding and planting

Determine logistics, such as locations of a possible biogas digester, compost collection sites and alternative energy sources.

Longer Term Goals: Five Year Projected Timeline

Determine what crop combinations allow maximum energy harvesting with maximum benefits to the local agroecosystem, soil and the wider ecological region.

Continue to raise public awareness of the importance of local energy, local food production and small scale farms. There is also a focus on exposing damaging environmental effects of energy production including habitat destruction that results from developing expansive energy crops.

To promote and advocate for the importance of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the UBC Farm and its mandate, both in the public sphere and the University of British Columbia.