Reducing production costs Reducing production costs by saving energyby saving energy

Topical subject for many Topical subject for many reasons:reasons:

EconomicalEconomical

Environmental Environmental

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

Basic principle:Basic principle:

Tobacco growers have always been Tobacco growers have always been sensitive to a parsimonious use of energysensitive to a parsimonious use of energy

For economical reasons, our growers do For economical reasons, our growers do not have financial means to waste energy not have financial means to waste energy for tobacco leaf productionfor tobacco leaf production

The permanent media sensitizing to the The permanent media sensitizing to the consequences of gas with greenhouse consequences of gas with greenhouse effects motivates in optimizing our effects motivates in optimizing our energy consumptionenergy consumption

Identification of potential Identification of potential savings:savings:

Soil preparation and fertilizationSoil preparation and fertilization TransplantingTransplanting Weeding and crop protectionWeeding and crop protection IrrigationIrrigation Setting and maintenance of the engines Setting and maintenance of the engines of harvesting equipments of harvesting equipments

Verification of burners settingsVerification of burners settings Curing and taking down of BurleyCuring and taking down of Burley Flue curingFlue curing

Distribution of energy Distribution of energy consumption in flue consumption in flue curing:curing: 26% of consumed energy = losses 26% of consumed energy = losses

through walls and concrete soilthrough walls and concrete soil 28% of consumed energy = air 28% of consumed energy = air

renewalrenewal 46% of consumed energy = 46% of consumed energy =

evaporation of tobacco water contentevaporation of tobacco water content

Source: AERET 2007, ANITTA, French experimentationSource: AERET 2007, ANITTA, French experimentation

Choice of energy source:Choice of energy source:

Depending on the marketplaceDepending on the marketplace

Depending on available techniquesDepending on available techniques

Depending on the size of the farmDepending on the size of the farm

At the time of changing:At the time of changing:

To take into account: « grey energy »To take into account: « grey energy »

On a thermal point, to limit losses by On a thermal point, to limit losses by

insulation insulation

On a mechanical point, to look for the On a mechanical point, to look for the

best yieldsbest yields

Not to give way to « fashion »Not to give way to « fashion »

Use of by-products as thermal Use of by-products as thermal energy source for flue curing:energy source for flue curing:

Usually linked with large investmentsUsually linked with large investments

Seasonal use = expensive OR need of a Seasonal use = expensive OR need of a

complementary market to sell thermal complementary market to sell thermal

energyenergy

Problems to assure supplyProblems to assure supply

When needing a complement with fuel = When needing a complement with fuel =

double equipmentsdouble equipments

To conclude:To conclude:

No unique solution, every one has to No unique solution, every one has to find the better solutionfind the better solution

Everything evolves, it is necessary to Everything evolves, it is necessary to adapt but taking into account adapt but taking into account investment needs : energy cost is not investment needs : energy cost is not sufficient to account for some changessufficient to account for some changes

We have to go on with a sustainable We have to go on with a sustainable demeanor regarding energy and demeanor regarding energy and environmentenvironment