Renewable energy: the future of agriculture?

With load-shedding set to stay in the near term, farmers are being forced to invest in renewably energy options. Cobus du Plessis takes a look at some of these.

- Cobus du Plessis

Energy is used at different stages of agricultural production and processing. The most significant sources of energy for agricultural activities are diesel and electricity. Diesel and electricity are sourced from the national grid which has a strong reliance on coal. Diesel accounts for more than half of the energy consumed in agriculture. It is used to fuel vehicles during the preparation of land as well as for the harvesting and transport of produce.

Electricity is used for irrigation, processing, and cooling. Both diesel and electricity are obtained from fossil fuels, which are major emitters of greenhouse gas emissions. The high reliance on these energy sources is consequently worsening the problem of climate change.

RISING COST OF ENERGY, CLIMATE CHANGE

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the cost of energy (electricity and diesel/petrol) and insecurity of supply as Eskom struggles to keep up with the rising demand. At the same time, farmers and agri-businesses are becoming increasingly pressured from export markets and consumers to reduce carbon emissions and to offer low-carbon agricultural products.

The predicted climate changes for the 2040–60 period include higher mean annual temperatures, higher maximum temperatures, more hot days and more heatwaves, higher minimum temperatures, fewer cold days and fewer frost days. The drier and hotter climate will inevitably lead to rising energy demands for irrigation as well as for the cooling and storage of produce.

LOAD-SHEDDING