2 minute read
Solar Energy
from 2022 Early Summer
by MilkProducer
REDUCE COSTS AND MAKE A STATEMENT WITH ON-FARM SOLAR PV
By Matthew Belo
A solar installation on the Lintfield Farms barn roof has a big impact when viewed from the air and from the owners' pocketbook.
REMCO AND KAREN BRINKE were tired of seeing their electricity bills go up every year and decided it was time to do something about it. Today, the roof of their heifer barn is home to a 150 kw AC (180 kw DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) system that offsets 95 per cent of their power consumption.
The Brinkes operate and run Lintfield Farms, a dairy operation located in Granton, ON, just outside of St. Marys. Remco’s parents, Ben and Annemieke Brinke, started the farm when they first moved to Canada from Holland in 1990. What started with a tie-stall operation has now expanded several times over the years to 350 milking cows. Their operation continues to grow, which also means increased energy demands. These days, those costs are compounded by Ontario’s ever-rising energy prices. The Brinkes realized that energy costs would continue to increase. They had considered adding solar PV to their farm operation for some time, and in 2020, contacted Toews Power to gain a better understanding of the feasibility of a system and the expected payback of their investment.
“We knew solar would be an up-front investment, but it would help us to offset rising energy costs and lock in our monthly hydro bill at a reasonable rate for the life of the solar generator, which is projected to last 25 to 30 years,” says Remco.
Solar is a great option for dairy farmers and small-medium businesses who pay some of the highest electricity rates in Ontario falling into the General Service Energy and Energy Service Demand
“We wanted to invest in the future of our farm, and we’re very happy with the results.” — Remco Brinke, Granton, ON
billing classes. Most dairy farm operations can expect paybacks of five to 10 years on their 30-year investment, but the numbers get even better if they can take advantage of grants such as the Agriculture Clean Technology (ACT) grant, or for other types of farms, the Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program (PEFIP).
Solar also provides great tax benefits. Solar generating equipment qualifies for accelerated depreciation, allowing businesses to reduce their taxable income in the early years of an asset’s operation by claiming a larger than usual depreciation, therefore improving cash flow. The takeaway? If your business is paying taxes, you can save up to 26.5 per cent (depending on your tax rate) of your system in the first year. The Brinkes utilized grant funding from the Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF), an initiative funded by a portion of carbon tax revenues to help support actions around energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions.
“We wanted to invest in the future of our farm, and we’re very happy with the results,” says Remco.
Visit Compass Energy Consulting at https://compassenergyconsulting.ca or Toews Power at https://toewspower.com.
—Henk Bertens, Bertens Farm Ltd.
519-229-6108
toews@compassenergyconsulting.ca
www.toewspower.com www.compassenergyconsulting.ca
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