Energy & Power Systems Category Guide

What Are Fuel, Electricity & Energy Services?

Fuel, electricity, and energy services include all sources of power for dairy operations—diesel for tractors and equipment, electricity for milking and cooling, propane for heating, and related services like fuel delivery, electrical maintenance, and energy efficiency consulting.

Why Energy Management Matters

Energy is a significant operating cost on dairy farms. Electricity powers milking equipment, milk cooling, lighting, ventilation, and pumps. Fuel runs field equipment, feeding, and manure handling. Managing energy use and costs affects profitability.

Key Considerations

• Cost control: Energy prices fluctuate; managing use reduces exposure
• Efficiency opportunity: Upgrades often pay for themselves
• Reliability: Power outages affect milk cooling and animal welfare
• Environmental impact: Reducing energy use lowers emissions

Major Energy Uses

Milk Cooling

Refrigeration compressors are major electricity users. Plate coolers and variable speed drives improve efficiency.

Milking Equipment

Vacuum pumps and milk transfer. Variable speed vacuum pumps save significant energy.

Lighting

Barn and parlor lighting. LED upgrades reduce electricity use 50-75%.

Ventilation

Fans for cow cooling and air quality. Efficient motors and proper sizing reduce costs.

Water Heating

Hot water for cleaning. Heat recovery from milk cooling can provide "free" hot water.

Efficiency Opportunities

• LED lighting: Fast payback from reduced electricity
• Variable frequency drives: Match pump and fan speed to actual needs
• Heat recovery: Capture waste heat for water heating
• Equipment maintenance: Clean coils, replace belts, maintain systems
• Energy audits: Professional assessment identifies opportunities

Do You Need Energy Improvements?

Consider energy investments if:

• Electricity bills are higher than similar operations
• Equipment is old and inefficient
• Utility incentives make upgrades affordable
• Reliability concerns exist
• Cooling or ventilation capacity is inadequate

Cost Considerations

LED lighting upgrades cost $2,000-10,000 with 2-3 year payback. VFD installations cost $3,000-8,000 per motor. Heat recovery systems cost $5,000-15,000. Many utilities offer rebates that reduce net costs 25-50%. Energy efficiency typically has excellent ROI.