A decision support and optimization platform for energy technology investments on dairy farms

摘要

This body of work pertained to the development of the Decision Support System for Energy use in Dairy Production (DSSED), a combined energy modelling and optimization platform offering decision support for dairy farmers wishing to invest in new energyefficient and/or renewable technologies, upgrade their existing farm infrastructure or optimize their management practices. DSSED was developed to allow dairy farmers to calculate how a potential investment in an energy technology will affect their long-term economic and environmental performance, using input details specific to their farm setup. Optimization functionality in the form of a genetic algorithm was incorporated into DSSED to allow the optimal technology setup and management practices for either maximizing return on investment or minimizing electricity related CO2 emissions to be established In order to identify the optimum technology and management practices on a particular farm, DSSED requires information such as current dairy farm infrastructure details, management practices, electricity tariffs and eligibility for grant aid The optimum farm setup, as well as the economic and environmental improvement over a 20-year time horizon are then presented in easily readable and downloadable charts and figures. Providing relevant information to farmers concerning the economic viability of energy efficient and renewable technologies on their dairy farms will also increase the utilization of these technologies on a national level This will result in: 1) reducing electricity related CO_2 emissions on dairy farms, 2) reducing the required load from the electrical grid, and 3) increasing the proportion of renewable energy contributing to national electricity demand.