Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version. If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options. Demand Management Technology & Practices for Agricultural SystemsPublished by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org Citation: 2011 Louisville, Kentucky, August 7-10, 2011 1110991.(doi:10.13031/2013.37386)Authors: Adam Jon Laurent, Jennifer Lynn Brinker, Adam Jon Laurent, Jennifer Lynn Brinker Keywords: Energy, Demand, Kilowatt, Management, Strategy, Reduction, Grain, Drying In 2008, the United States electrical generating capacity peaked at 1,000,000 Megawatts, the highest values on record. Demand has steadily increased over time, with future projections showing a continued increase. Electricity demand is a value generally expressed in kilowatts (kW) and is determined by the sum of all electrical power loads at a given moment. For some producers, demand costs comprise up to 60% of their monthly electric bill. Energy demand is a topic many agricultural producers know little about and often many agricultural business owners do not understand how demand costs affect their bottom line. This study provides information about energy demand and how demand values are derived. The study also explains the costs associated with high demand, and ultimately how these costs can be curbed. The study investigates how demand controllers and operation best practices at farms and grain facilities can be incorporated to reduce demand costs. This study found that for a grain drying system in Wisconsin, implementing a demand management strategy can lower the farms energy bill by as much as $600 per month and have a return on investment of 2.1 years. (Download PDF) (Export to EndNotes)
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