Food & Energy

11
Apr

Magazine Estrel Story, an interview with Peter Schrum

For the 25th anniversary of the Estrel, the internationally known hotel presents itself with the new magazine Estrel Story.

Hankering for fresh, rooftop harvested vegetables seasoned with homegrown herbs? Then you’re in the right place at the Estrel! Not only does our rooftop offer a phenomenal view of Germany’s capital city, but ever since last summer, the hotel’s executive chef, Peter Griebel, has been harvesting organic vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers from the new rooftop greenhouse.
Find the interview with Peter Schrum, SUNfarming company founder and main shareholder, from page 20 onwards and read how the Food & Energy project brings tomatoes to the hotel roof.

Rooftop tomatoes, an Interview with Peter Schrum

29
Mar

SUNfarming Food & Energy provides emergency aid in Mozambique

The SUNfarming group from Erkner uses its years of experience in Africa and sends whole-food to the disaster area.

Tropical cyclone Idai has left a trail of devastation in southern Africa. In Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, around two million people are in urgent need of assistance. There is a lack of drinking water, food and medicines. Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi are among the poorest countries in the world. Where there used to be frequent drought, the few fertile fields are now under water. Rivers burst their banks, flash floods and landslides threaten settlements.
Hundreds of thousands of people have lost everything. The situation is dramatic.

The ambassador for Food Security in Africa, Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge of the African Parliament in Johannesburg has asked for support from Peter Schrum as President of the BRM (Federal Association for Regenerative Mobility e.V.).
Fast, unbureaucratic help was required. With Peter Schrum, the phone was no longer quiet until all necessary steps for a first aid delivery were initiated.
SUNfarming and our South African Food & Energy partners from CFAM Technologies today ship the first 10 tons of food aid to Mozambique. Transport from South Africa is organized by Coca Cola and distributed by Mozambique's Ministry for Disaster Management to children and the elderly in the crisis areas.
The aid package, funded by SUNfarming, CFAM and Botselo Holdings, consists of the dry product Pre-Cooked Porridge, which consists of corn, soy, grains, minerals and vitamins. With only 14 euro cents per day, two whole-meal meals ensure the life of a person.

As a SUNfarming Group and BRM, we are happy to provide the needy with fast food emergency aid“, explains Peter Schrum, President of BRM and SUNfarming Chairman. „We have already developed the first porridge whole-foods based on our Food & Energy Public Private Partnership project launched at KfW / DEG since 2013, at North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. In addition to the vegetable and fish production under the solar modules in the training center, SF Porridge was provided in the townships to provide basic services to our staff and trainees. The existing partnership with CFAM Technologies, led by Prof LJ Grobler, has enabled our fast and efficient relief effort to be delivered to Mozambique. Today, through years of experience and networks in Africa, we are able to provide large quantities of whole foods in 1 and 10 kilo packages for disaster areas and the needy at very low cost in the short term.
Our first aid delivery is leaving South Africa today. 10 tonnes of whole foods ensure survival for 10,000 children for three weeks.
Should additional funding be available, we will immediately send more trucks with food to Mozambique within a few days, "so Peter Schrum.

12
Dec

First Hybrid Center for Renewable Energy in the Bahamas

The first SUNfarming/bioltec Hybrid Center for renewable electricity and renewable mobility in the Bahamas was inaugurated on 10th December.

The Bahamas Hybrid Center offers renewable electricity and renewable mobility combined with food production, all coupled to a one-site training program - a very unique concept.
The German companies SUNfarming GmbH and bioltec systems GmbH , in cooperation with the Bahamian company 700 Islands Energy, have set up a hybrid center for renewable energies at the Windsor High School in Albany, Nassau.This project is part of the worldwide dena Renewable Energy Solutions Programme coordinated by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) - the German Energy Agency - and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) within the German Energy Solutions Initiative.

More than 40 political, business and university guests attended the opening ceremony on the campus of Windsor High School.
After the opening speech by Peter Schrum, company founder and main shareholder of SUNfarming, guests had the opportunity to visit the center, accompanied by knowledgeable experts who gladly answered all questions.

In this Hybrid Center, a greenhouse with roof integrated photovoltaic panels, electricity is generated from sunlight, while vegetables, fruits, flowers or medicinal herbs are grown indoors with high yield. The integration of renewable energy into a combined heat and power plant generates electricity and hot water at the same time. A smart grid management system makes the power together with a battery storage as a 24/7 stand-alone solution and / or grid-connected. Electric and fuel vehicles clearly demonstrate renewable mobility.
At the same time, SUNfarming and bioltec are striving to promote climate and resource protection, to shorten regional value chains, to provide energy, to create jobs and ultimately to increase the quality of life sustainably. The competencies of both companies have been integrated into the design. Demonstration, training, application and technology transfer of proven leading-edge technologies are the keywords for this "Bahamian - German Hybrid Center". In addition, it provides the foundation for future collaborative research and development, including business models for commercial applications. The partners bring together different systems integration technologies, whether for off grid or grid-connected applications that are adaptable to local conditions and customer needs.

Learn more about the project

6
Dec

First certified Food & Energy training in South Africa

The first official Food & Energy Training took place 26-29 November at the SUNfarming Food & Energy Training Centre, located at the Engineering Faculty of North West University

Technical and agriculture teaching staff of the correctional services from all over South Africa attended the course.
„The participants were very satisfied with the course and some even stated that it was one of the best courses they attended and the wish there was more of these types of training. They feel now they will be able to make a big difference when going back to home/work,“ says Faure van Schalkwyk, Energy Research Engineer & Trainer.

Xoli Phillips recommends SUNfarming Food & Energy:

"Food & Energy is an excellent opportunity our youth must grap with both hands. It is the best training I have ever attended. Training was so exciting and prepared us for the future. Thanks to all the facilitators who made the training so easy to understand. So professional and well versed with the course. It is much appreciated…keep up the excellent work."

Read the latest news about SUNfarming Food & Energy on facebook

15
Nov

Double harvest

In the debate about the use of agricultural land for solar power production, SUNfarming has long been offering solutions for the double use of such areas.

Read the article here (German)

24
Apr

save-the-date

Visit us at the Intersolar, the world's largest solar fair in Munich,
from 20 June to 22 June 2018, hall A3, booth 490



Intersolar Europe, June 20-22, 2018

Intersolar Europe is the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry and its partners and takes place annually at the Messe München exhibition center in Munich, Germany. The event’s exhi­bition and conference both focus on the areas of photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies, solar plants, as well as grid infrastructure and solutions for the integration of renewable energy. Since being founded 27 years ago, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers and partners of the solar industry.