Energy Profiling of a Plant Factory and Energy Conservation  Opportunities

Abdul Muin Shaari; Muhammad Syamim Mohd Razuan; Juntakan Taweekun; Mohd Faizal Mohideen Batcha; Kamil Abdullah; Zulhazmi Sayuti; Mohammad Abid Ahmad; Muhd Akhtar  Mohamad Tahir

Authors

Abdul Muin Shaari Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia
Muhammad Syamim Mohd Razuan Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia
Juntakan Taweekun Energy Research Centre and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
Mohd Faizal Mohideen Batcha Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia
Kamil Abdullah Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia
Zulhazmi Sayuti Horticulture Research Centre, Malaysian Agriculture Research & Development Institute, Persiaran Mardi - Upm, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohammad Abid Ahmad Horticulture Research Centre, Malaysian Agriculture Research & Development Institute, Persiaran Mardi - Upm, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Muhd Akhtar Mohamad Tahir Horticulture Research Centre, Malaysian Agriculture Research & Development Institute, Persiaran Mardi - Upm, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

MARDI, energy audit, plant factory

Abstract

Precision farming is one of the important areas to ensure food security by coping with climate change and increase farmer’s productivity. Plant factory is one of the aspects of precision farming and recently sought attention among modern farmers in Malaysia. While ensuring continuous supply of crops throughout the year with increased quality and yield, plant factories consume large amount of energy to maintain their micro?climatic condition. This paper presents the energy consumption profiling of a plant factory, owned by Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) in Serdang, Malaysia. This study is important to establish the status quo of consumption pattern of the plant factory towards reducing the energy consumption. Hence, energy audit was carried at the plant factory for duration of 2 weeks. From the audit it was found that the energy was distributed as follows: Air conditioning system - 51%, LED - 36%, pump - 3% and others - 10%. Finally, suitable energy conservation measures were proposed to reduce the energy intensity of the plant factory.