Improving feedlot energy and water use efficiency

Summary

Water use and energy use efficiency are important issues for the feedlot industry to ensure long term sustainability. Industry strategy, Red Meat 2030, seeks out world-leading environmental management for the Australian industry, as does the goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.

This project monitored water and energy use over a one-year period to determine opportunities for improving efficiency at a 30,000 head capacity (SCU) steam flaking feedlot. Twenty-four meters were strategically located around the feedlot and connected via communications equipment. Metering point location focused on high cost, high-value end uses to provide greater insight into boiler fuel, steam, water, and electricity cost.

Objectives

The objective of this project was to determine strategies to improve water or energy use efficiency for a 30,000 SCU steam flaking feedlot by:

• metering water and energy use in the feedlot over a one-year period
• identifying technologies to improve water use efficiency and energy use efficiency including their cost-benefit and pay-back period.

Key findings

• Thermal energy use to operate boilers for steam-flaking was the major energy use. The data confirmed a total energy balance of thermal (67%), diesel (21%) and electricity (12%).
• Water for drinking consumption was 75.8% of total water use. The mill plant consumed much smaller amounts (1.8% for grain wetting water and 1.6% for boiler feedwater). Water for dust suppression (6.9%) was the largest non-cattle using application.
• A range of technologies were identified to improve energy use efficiency at steam-flaking feedlots including:
  • boiler hot well temperature control and pre-heating (economiser)
  • boiler combustion control
  • makeup water pre-heating with heat pumps.

Benefits to industry

This project provides a detailed dataset on water and energy use efficiency of a large steam flaking feedlot. This dataset will benefit feedlots exploring energy and water use efficiency options.

MLA action

Results will be presented at the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association ‘Exploring Feedlot Energy Online Workshop’ in March, 2021.

Future research

Further research is required to demonstrate the savings from installation of boiler economisers, combustion control and heat pumps in steam-flaking yards.

Related resources

MLA publications

• A framework for water and energy monitoring and efficiency in feedlots
• Feedlot Design and Construction – energy sources and supply, MLA final report
• Feedlot Design and Construction – water requirements, MLA final report
• Feedlot energy efficiency and cost reduction, MLA final report