Future-proof stable, how do you create it?

There is a lot to consider when building or renovating a pigsty. In addition to the barn design, the government also sets strict sustainability requirements. The barn of the future therefore does not emit any emissions, but instead generates energy. What are the possibilities for creating this 'stable of the future'?

The Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2015. It has been decided that participating countries must reduce their emissions. The Netherlands has also endorsed this agreement, so the Dutch pig farming sector must also do its part. However, an energy-neutral or sustainable barn is not only important for that reason.

Saving on energy consumption can also be economically interesting. The first thing that is often thought of is generating energy. This is especially interesting when the generated power can be used itself. However, there are even more ways to make the barn more energy neutral and sustainable.

Generate your own energy
When it comes to generating energy, installing solar panels is the most obvious. This can be especially interesting when asbestos roofs have to be removed. The price has fallen sharply in recent years. This decrease is due to the fact that China has kept prices 'artificially' high. According to Thijs van Harten from Profinrg, a wholesaler and installer of large-scale solar projects, the price has fallen by about 3% in 50 years, making it increasingly attractive to invest in solar panels.

There are other ways to generate energy, for example by using wind energy or a biogas installation. By generating sustainable energy yourself, you can also score points for the 'Sustainable Livestock Farming Measure'. In that yardstick, it is looked at which part of the standard use of the barn is covered by the solar panels, wind turbines and/or biogas installations. The larger that part, the higher the score.

Currently, solar panels are the cheapest investment. Mari van Genugten, director of Genugten Agri, says that solar panels cost on average €0,09 to €0,12 per generated kilowatt hour. This while for biogas you easily have to pay € 0,16 to € 0,20 per generated kilowatt hour. However, solar panels do not supply electricity at night and the yield is also lower in winter. The advantage of a biogas installation is that the installation supplies electricity constantly.

Save energy
Generating energy is not the only way to make a pigsty more sustainable. There are all kinds of techniques and innovations that ensure that you can save energy. Ground channel ventilation is an example of this. With this technology, the temperature automatically adjusts, making it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This technique can be combined with a heat pump. Heat can also be extracted from the pigs via the heat pump, in order to heat the piglets.

A technology that is in its infancy is an intelligent vacuum manure removal system. Via this system, the manure removal (via sensors) is adjusted to the manure production. The manure is hygienized, which creates methane and ammonia, which is converted into heat, water and electricity in a fuel cell. This heat, water and electricity can ultimately be used for the installations in the barn. This technique is already being used in the ZERO barn, a concept from Agrifirm and Sweco. 

All at once or in phases?
All in all, there is a forest of techniques and innovations to make the pigsty more energy neutral. Experience with building or renovation plans shows that it can be good to overhaul everything in one go. This is because with a phased approach there is a risk that the barn will no longer comply with the applicable rules in the short term. However, a disadvantage is that the investment cannot be spread out.

The guideline for (re)construction plans must at least be the 'Sustainable Livestock Farming Measure'. If construction or construction is carried out according to the standard, the pig farmer is eligible for the environmental investment deduction. This benefit can amount to as much as €4 million. It is not unimportant that sustainability can help to convince the municipality in the process of building or expanding a stable. And 'last but not least' it can help to create social support.

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Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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