Food & Energy

Before the laying of the foundation stone, Rt. Hon.Gen. (Rtd.) Moses Ali visited our Food & Energy Training Center at the North-West University in Potchefstroom in South Africa to see with his own eyes. The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Energy of Uganda already visited us in November 2019 and reported to the Prime Minister. The delegation consisted of the family members of Hon Gen (Rt) Mosis Ali and Prince Kimbugwe.

After the Food & Energy visit we went to CFAM and introduced our partner in food processing.
The Prime Minister was very pleased about our technology and wants to have Food & Energy for Uganda.

An extract from our project proposal to the government of Uganda

Outputs:
The aim is that both the local partners and SUNfarming define the most suitable program for trainings. However, we would like to suggest the following program, as a start:
Module 1: Basic Knowledge Renewable Energy
Module 2: Design and installation of Photovoltaics systems
Module 3: Economic efficiency models for Photovoltaics systems
Module 4: Battery systems
Module 5: E-mobility
Module 6: Food & Energy - plants, greenhouse and free field systems
Module 7: Food & Energy- irrigation, fertilization, control, monitoring
Module 8: Operation, maintenance, monitoring systems.
SUNfarming will realize the first trainings under the Train-The-Trainer principle. Where the local trainers will be responsible to organize and continue with further trainings under the supervision of SUNfarming.

Research activities
With Food & Energy, SUNfarming will establish a platform to develop several activities, where research is very important as the PV modules create a special environment under them that may not be suitable for some crops. Therefore, the main purpose of the research activities is to determine the most suitable crop for the local Food & Energy system and, in general, how to optimize agricultural production without compromising electricity production. Students that are carrying out their thesis or research groups can use the Food & Energy systems for experimentation and local professors would lead the research activities.

Mr. Benito A. Ferreiras Rector of ISA was the first speaker to highlight the benefits of the SUNfarming Food & Energy Training Center for the Dominican Republic. Mr. Peter Schrum, founder and main shareholder of the SUNfarming Group, presented the Food & Energy Concept. The German Ambassador Dr. Volker Pellet emphasized how advantageous the technology transfer operated by SUNfarming is for the Dominican Republic. The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Germany, Ms. Maibé Sánchez Caminero, confirmed the advantages of the cooperation between the Dominican Republic and Germany using the example of this project.

The numerous guests included many high-ranking employees from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, the CNE (National Energy Commission), the CDEEE (Dominican State Holding of Energy Companies) and also the Director of GIZ in the Dominican Republic, Mr. Clemens Findeisen, was among the guests.

“It was a successful event with an interested specialist audience, who followed the lectures with great interest. It is not an exaggeration to say, that the Food & Energy concept among all those present, is classified as a very positive contribution to the development of the Dominican Republic. Afterwards there was a conversation with the Vice President CDEEE Lic. Rubén Jiménez Bichara, ”explains Holger Schönherr SUNfarming project manager.

(photo f.l.t.r: Peter Schrum, SUNfarming Founder and Main Shareholder, Lic. Rubén Jiménez Bichara, Vicepresident CDEEE, Ambassador Dr. Volker Pellet, Clemens Findeisen, GIZ)

"Dorian" - one of the strongest ever recorded tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean - caused storm surges with five and a half to seven meter high waves. The storm raged over the Bahamas for three days. Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 350 km / h. According to the Red Cross, about 13,000 houses were destroyed.

Every year, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean are hit by severe tropical storms. It is therefore essential for sustainable management that our training facilities withstand these catastrophes.

In the Bahamas, our hurricane resistant SUNfarming SP Food & Energy substructures and glass / glass solar panels with special fixings have proven this in an impressive way. The photos of our employees clearly show that the greenhouse design details of the Food & Energy training facility developed by SUNfarming rightly bears the title hurricane-resistant.

Dena (German Energy Agency, article: Flagship Project SUNfarming Hybrid Center Bahamas)

SUNfarming Hybrid Training Center in the Bahamas

The Hybrid Training Center will demonstrate the conditions for developing an economic model that will contribute to the independence of the Caribbean countries in relation to fossil fuels, the environment and the environment in a model facility dedicated to the topics of SF Food & Energy and fuel efficiency management at bioltec Improving the quality of life of their inhabitants.
Some benefits for society and the environment in numbers:

10,000 kWh of solar energy
10-15 kg of tomatoes per plant
Up to 90% water savings
50 employees
40,000 kWh of electricity CHP
16,000 liters of UCO converted into biofuel
80,000 kWh of thermal energy CHP
40 t of CO2 savings
95% greenhouse gas savings compared to fossil diesel
Typically 50% less toxic exhaust gases (with similar NOx)
Training in hydroponics, PV technology, electromobility and water saving in agriculture
Local and independent domestic food and energy production

The Caribbean region is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels to generate energy, resulting in higher CO2 emissions and electricity prices of up to 0.40 USD / kWh. These prices prevent growth in many economies in the region and lead to high business costs.
Another important issue in the Caribbean is food security, where up to 80% of the food consumed has been imported.
SUNfarming Agro-Solar greenhouses or as modified free-field plants and biofuels made of 100% waste oil (UCO) are combined to form a hybrid system. The same land area is used for the production of food, electricity and heat energy. Jobs will be created in agriculture and in renewable energies. At the same time it serves as a training center for students and interested locals for e.g. electromobility, photovoltaics and combined heat and power generation and form the technological basis for capacity building, research and technology transfer.
Emissions, energy and food costs are reduced, and future generations will be informed about the benefits of the hybrid system.

On 2 ha of solar park, additional solar nets and barriers will be installed under the solar tables, allowing the keeping of free-range chickens. Trainings and jobs will be created for Syrian refugees in the fields of solar technology, electromobility and organic egg production. The training program consists of practical and theoretical lessons. The theory lesson takes place in a purpose-built training center. Directly connected to this complex is a shop which is also operated by trainees. Here, the agricultural products according to eu standard produced products , are sold directly and impart practical and theoretical business knowledge to trainees.

This project was made possible as a large PPP (Private Partnership Project) through the support of the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), run by Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency.

"Education and jobs are being created, food supplies and sustainable energy production are contributing to a responsible, safe way of life and giving people here a future perspective for a later return to their homeland, explains Peter Schrum SUNfarming founder and main shareholder.
"We would like to thank DEG for making the" Blue Print " for bigger investments in Syria possible with this large Food & Energy training facility, continues Peter Schrum.

For this project, special substructures and brackets were developed by our subsidiary SOLprime, which makes it possible to raise the solar tables up to 4 m. Working under the tables is thus easily and effectively possible. To protect the chickens, additional nets were installed between the solar tables. Special laying devices according to the EU Organic Regulation, designed by SUNfarming in cooperation with German laying hens specialists and transported in individual parts to Osmaniye, were already assembled in first training sessions by Syrian trainees.

"Africa is a key partner in the fight against climate change, with the aim of enabling Africa to deal with the consequences of climate change, but it is also about a new partnership for sustainable energy supply." In the project YESPV-NIGBEN, German know-how is being developed helping to improve the food supply in West Africa, we are using research and innovation to support sustainable business models and perspectives for the people in their home countries of Nigeria and Benin, "said Research Minister Thomas Rachel.

With the three-year project YESPV-NIGBEN ("Earnings analysis and socio-economic impact assessment of photovoltaic-assisted food production and drying in the tropical climate of Nigeria-Benin"), researchers from Nigeria, Benin and Germany are contributing to solving this problem To reduce land use conflicts between agriculture and energy production, combined "photovoltaic greenhouses" are developed for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. The photovoltaic system adapted to local conditions allows power to be generated for the greenhouse and the local utility grid. Greenhouses are the basis for a predictable, continuous production of food. At the same time, drying systems are operated with solar energy, and ventilation and management systems are developed. The goal: to make local crops more effective than before. Thus, surpluses can be processed in large quantities.

"We were in Nigeria and Abuja in August at the Kick Off Meeting“, explains Holger Schönherr, SUNfarming project partner. "Every fifth inhabitant of Africa is starving. Heavy rainfall periods alternate with extreme drought. In Nigeria and Benin enough food can be produced, but the distribution and preservation represent two of the major problems. Thus 60% of the crops rot at harvest time. At SUNfarming, we are convinced that we can contribute to food safety through sustainable energy and drying processes with Food & Energy plants, "Holger Schönherr continues.

When handing over the funding certificates: (from left) Prof. Uwe Rau, Director of the Institute of Photovoltaics, Dr. med. Solomon Agbo, Corporate Development, Board Member Prof. Harald Bolt, Mobolaji Sakirat Ogundero, Deputy Nigerian Ambassador to Berlin, Secretary of State Thomas Rachel MdB, Peter Schrum, SUNfarming, and Prof. Ulrich Schurr, Director of the Institute of Plant Sciences
Copyright: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Ralf-Uwe Limbach

All tools for rice cutting have been lost by the flood. SUNfarming spontaneously bought 200 rice cutters and 200 hoes for the women in the village. In addition, the seed for corn, cabbage, beans and peppers. The village elder got a cell phone, the only communication option for the whole village.
"These people have lost everything. I was particularly touched by a little boy of eight who lost his parents due to the flood. He is only one of many. Because we and many other people and organizations are helping, a foster family can now take care of him, "reports Peter Schrum.
The first aid package, co-funded and mailed by SUNfarming Food & Energy, consisting of 10 t whole foods, arrived in Mozambique and was distributed to the needy by the local aid organizations.
Back in Mobuto, Peter Schrum, together with Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge, Ambassador for Food Security of the African Parliament, talks with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Vice-Minister for Energy on possible cooperation in the Food & Energy project.