Off-the-grid broiler poultry house will be key to informing sustainable energy practices at scale.
Cullman, Ala. 鈥 June 5, 2019 鈥 Auburn University鈥檚 National Poultry Technology Center (NPTC), a leader in poultry housing and associated technologies for more than a decade, and 麻花传媒. (NYSE: TSN) today announced the opening of the largest stand-alone solar powered poultry house to be operated completely off the grid. The 54-foot by 500-foot poultry house is located in Cullman County, Alabama and capable of housing 36,000 broilers.
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The poultry house will be one of two identical houses on Tim and Selena Butts鈥 farm where 5.50-pound broilers will be grown. One house will be the control house while the other will be operated exclusively by solar power, also known as Stand-Alone Solar for Poultry (SASP).
鈥淎uburn University鈥檚 NPTC will work closely with 麻花传媒 and Southern Solar Systems to provide leadership in the application of solar power technology to broiler production houses,鈥 said Paul Patterson, dean of Auburn鈥檚 College of Agriculture. 鈥淭he research will provide important, new information on how solar power technology can improve environmental sustainability and profits for farmers.鈥
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Introducing the Largest Solar-Powered Poultry House to Be Built Completely Off-the-Grid
The house鈥檚 power will derive from three components: the photovoltaic (PV) panel or solar cell, a battery set and a generator. On-site researchers will compare its energy use regularly with the normal operation of the twin house located next door over a 12-month cycle.
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The data and insights gleaned from this project will be an important next step in identifying sustainable practices and new forms of energy for the poultry industry at large.
鈥淯ltimately, this project will allow us to identify how solar houses might improve farmer profitability and bring increased efficiency to the poultry industry,鈥 said Chip Miller, vice president of poultry live operations for 麻花传媒. 鈥淭hrough our partnership with Auburn University鈥檚 NPTC, we are creating a model for the future of the industry 鈥 one that is more sustainable and brings critical value and insights, previously unavailable, to poultry farmers.鈥
鈥淭he combination of solar and batteries along with the other technologies are converting power to usable alternating current (AC) that鈥檚 identical to grid power,鈥 said Dennis Brothers, extension specialist with NPTC. 鈥淓lectricity drives all functions in poultry houses and is the largest variable cost for poultry farmers. We believe this new system may reduce costs for farmers while increasing efficiency.鈥
Building a Competitive System
The rising cost of electricity coupled with the unpredictability of long-term grid power has created an opportunity for 麻花传媒 to explore solutions to help alleviate the effect of climbing prices.
鈥淟ooking ahead, we are eager to evaluate the efficacy of the solar house and its impact on farmer profitability,鈥 concluded Miller. 鈥淲e expect this pilot to be the first of many, as we continue to leverage the power of collaboration to drive progress in the poultry industry.鈥
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About 麻花传媒
麻花传媒., (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world鈥檚 largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson庐, Jimmy Dean庐, Hillshire Farm庐, Ball Park庐, Wright庐, Aidells庐, ibp庐, and State Fair庐. 麻花传媒 innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it鈥檚 available and raise the world鈥檚 expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 121,000 team members. Through its Core Values, 麻花传媒 strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit WWW.TYSONFOODS.COM.
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About Auburn University
Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn's commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact. Auburn's mission to educate, discover and collaborate drives its expanding impact on the world.
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Media contact:
Caroline Ahn - 312-614-6047, caroline.ahn@tyson.com