Session: ASME Undergraduate Student Design Expo

Paper Number: 176066

Overview of the Midsouth Rural Energy Assessment Program: Energy Impacts of Alternative and Regenerative Agricultural Practices in Midsouth Region 

Energy audits for the Mid-South region conducted by the University of Memphis Mechanical Engineering Department explored energy improvements for rural agricultural operations through investments in solar panels, updated insulation/lighting, VFDs, and more. However, certain areas of farming also showed opportunities for improvement through non-traditional approaches in energy assessments. The University of Memphis Mid-South Rural Energy for America program (REAP) explored how regenerative grazing practices, cover crop planting, and vehicle electrification options can also yield energy savings. REAP assessments explored six farm locations over the year term. Audits were conducted by gaining an understanding of each farm’s goals for energy efficiency and gathering documentation for current energy expenses and energy providers. Additionally, auditors took note of appliances and equipment in use that showed improvement opportunities.  Additional calculations were completed based on estimated vehicle usage, available paddock space, and current energy spendings. One farm showed potential for savings by investing in ATV electrification. Due to the daily use of the ATV to travel the farm and complete chores, spendings on gas could be reduced by the implementation of electric vehicle usage. Another farm presented an opportunity for savings by investing in an electric cargo van in place of a gas-powered delivery van. A consideration for this assessment was that most of the drive-time on delivery days consisted of highway travel, which is a less efficient mode of travel in electric vehicles, while efficiency would jump during city start/stop driving. Auditors also investigated potential savings through best practices related to equipment maintenance, cover crop planting, and multi-paddock grazing practices.  Grazing operations can lose a good deal of energy efficiency through gas consumption, equipment maintenance, and waste related to supplemental hay feeding during the winter season. A regenerative multi-paddock grazing method can influence herds to graze the forage more completely, resulting in more efficient land usage and reducing winter feeding expenses. Allowing unused paddock space to sit fallow promotes healthy growth of forage and allows for the parasite cycle to complete. Additionally, allowing grass to grow longer with more leaves provides grazing herds the best nutritional value, which also shows opportunity for improved efficiency. These findings are summarized in terms of qualitative operations efficiency improvements and projected energy savings. The program effectively encouraged interested operations that investments in renewable energy alternatives and regenerative practices can reduce operational expenses and ease unnecessary stressors on rural business, making it easier to provide goods to surrounding communities.

Presenting Author: Sophie Nieder University of Memphis

Presenting Author Biography: Sophie Nieder is a senior mechanical engineering student at the University of Memphis. She completed research through energy assessments with the Mid-South Rural Energy for America Program. She is interested in mechanical design, energy systems, and agricultural development.

Authors:

Sophie Nieder University of Memphis