A Guide to Marine Battery Charging
Marine battery charging is a crucial aspect of ensuring a seamless and worry-free boating experience. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the world of marine battery chargers, discussing the different types, their applications, and how to ensure compatibility with your marine battery. We recommend reading our marine blog, which covers the basics of marine batteries, … Continued
The 9 Best and Worst Newly Rated Brands of February
Our editors curate highly rated brands that are first assessed by our rigorous ratings system. Buying through our links may earn us a commission—supporting the work we do. Learn more. Our ratings team has scored 168 brands in the latest batch of brand ratings and uncovered some new, more sustainable brands worth checking out, […]
The post The 9 Best and Worst Newly Rated Brands of February appeared first on Good On You.
Thirsty emus look to smart solar for their daily drink
Emus, which cannot take a backward step, are one half of our national coat of arms. Typically fearless of humans, Dromaius Novaehollandiae is unique to Australia, where it has roamed our sunlit plains for millions of years, and is believed to be a survivor of prehistoric times, with similar bone structures to dinosaurs.
Solar energy and emus belong together.
These ancient birds — reaching between 1.6 and 1.9 m tall, and capable of sprints up to 50 kph — have pecked a living from grasses, fruits, native plants and insects as they have roamed our sunlit plains and woodlands for millions of years.
In the wild, they can survive extended periods between drinks, consuming up to 18 L of water when available. But they have a very high water requirement in very hot weather and also benefit from regular supplies of refreshment to attain ideal condition when farmed for their meat, skin, oil, eggs and feathers.
“The wild population of emus — estimated at a healthy total of more than 600,000 — is protected by law. All birds used for commercial emu farming must be derived from farm-reared or captive stock, with these prized creatures getting a generous diet of ideal foods and a regulated daily drink to ensure they are healthy,” said irrigation specialist Peter Kidgell of the Yarrawonga branch of the national Water Dynamics organisation.
Kidgell was involved in a solar-powered irrigation project in partnership with Damien Kennedy Irrigation near Mulawa in NSW to help ensure the sustainability and cost-efficiency of an emu farm at Mt Gwynne that stocks up to 300 birds.
Grundfos Solar Q pumping technology.
An automated solar array that delivers the right amount of water at the time it is needed, with PLC control allowing this to be remotely adjusted according to conditions.
The technology involved — which he says has performed outstandingly well in its first year of service — is of an automated, remotely controlled integrated installation of a type that can be customised to other poultry and livestock industries needing assured daily supplies of water, delivered as efficiently and as sustainably as possible.
Central to the project is a PC-controlled array of 10 solar sets powering the 10 Grundfos Solar Q Submersible Solar Pump installations which draw water from a dam supplied by the Murray River. Each set is complete with six panels (max 150 LPM/500 kPa) powering the submersible pumps, which are of a range that can be automated for solar or wind power, depending on the location and type of installation.
These pump and solar array sets automate water supply to stock troughs in six paddocks, each of which also features an integrated and automated hydrant to supply water at zero running cost, Kidgell said. Excess water supply from the Solo system feeds back to the farmer’s dam, where a Grundfos Hydro Solo E system drives another pump set.
The system delivered is a complete package, extending from pumps, array frames, mounting poles, long-life polyethylene pipes and risers, and plug-and-play connections. It includes a Grundfos CU 200 SQ Flex controller incorporating status and simply operated control arrows for the power supply and float switch connection for the connection used to detect the level of a liquid in 18 L pressure tanks. The system can be programmed to send an alarm if the liquid level becomes too high or low.
“The beauty of a complete package such as this is that everything in it is optimised to work best with everything else on the particular system involved. With irrigation, one size or package type definitely does not fit all.
“A complete integrated and customised package takes full account of a host of factors, including site conditions and varying operating needs, and simplifies the skills needed to operate it. It also needs to be backed up with local onsite service as required and as the opportunity arises, a system can be upgraded in line with the onward march of technology. This is important, because irrigation technology is evolving as farmers of all types adapt to national imperatives, including metering requirements, and the business needs to get more productivity and sustainability out of less water,” Kidgell said.
Water Dynamics sees efficient irrigation as a critical input for agricultural production, playing an important role in food security in Australia and abroad.
“Given population growth and the need for food export growth in Australia, it is widely expected that the agricultural sector here will have to expand the use of irrigation over the years ahead,” Kidgell said. “This will become even more important as we have entered the El Niño drier phase of our climate patterns, which is expected to have a rising impact in the years ahead on this, the driest inhabited nation on earth.”
Even the hardiest of creatures — and emus have survived here for up to 80 million years — need their share of available water.
“These are big birds — the second biggest on earth behind their close relation, the ostrich — and at just a year old typically reach between 30 and 40 kg each. At that size, these ancient creatures really do appreciate the regular drink that modern technology can deliver.”
Climate Finance For Low Emissions Agriculture In Sub-Saharan Africa
Climate Finance For Low Emissions Agriculture In Sub-Saharan Africa
jschoshinski
Fri, 02/09/2024 – 21:00
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The USAID Africa Trade and Investment Activity partnered with Open Capital (OCA) and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) to inform the design of catalytic interventions to scale climate financing for low-emissions agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This work included a thorough landscape analysis of climate financing flows specifically targeting agriculture in SSA. This analysis evaluated the effectiveness of climate mitigation and adaptation financing and the funding partners involved, as well as the primary barriers to increasing climate financing on the continent. The Climate Finance Innovation for Agriculture Report builds on insights from extensive consultations with a broad range of key ecosystem stakeholders and comprehensive desktop research, this report identifies intervention opportunities to address barriers to climate finance flows, including financing, governance, skills and knowledge, and agribusiness barriers.
The Climate Finance Toolbox provides a set of foundational resources to support USAID Country Missions in accelerating the flow of climate finance in their respective countries in SSA.
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Introduction to the Landscape of Climate Finance for Agriculture
Introduction to the Climate Finance Landscape: This document summarizes the context of climate finance for sub-Saharan Africa, including various instruments, approaches, challenges, opportunities, outcomes, and support requirements to inform potential interventions for future agriculture programs and projects with a climate finance focus.
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How-to Guide 1: Building a Climate Finance Roadmap
Developing Climate Finance Roadmaps: This document offers a set of guidelines for USAID country Missions developing customized climate finance roadmaps for the agriculture sector to accelerate the flow of climate finance within their respective countries or regions. This guide includes a step-by-step process for identifying barriers to climate finance flows, developing corresponding interventions, managing stakeholder engagement approaches, and incorporating milestones, timelines, and responsibilities to ultimately scale climate finance flows.
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How-to Guide 2: Supporting Development of Climate Finance Projects in Agriculture
Supporting the Development of Climate Finance Projects in Agriculture: This document provides guidance to USAID country Missions seeking to assist diverse stakeholders in developing climate-positive agriculture projects. Such projects involve avoiding or removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, preserving biodiversity, sustainably managing of natural resources, and improving the livelihoods of the local communities engaged in climate-related interventions.
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How-to Guide 3: Carbon Markets for Agriculture 101
Carbon Markets for Agriculture 101: This document serves as a foundational resource for understanding, assessing, and enabling the growth of carbon markets in agriculture within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This document summarizes key opportunities, challenges, and considerations for Missions to consider when developing carbon projects in SSA.
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How-to Guide 4: Working with Local Financial Institutions to Integrate Climate Lending
Working with Local Financial Institutions: This document offers guidance to USAID country Missions on crucial considerations when assisting local financial institutions in improving climate-specific lending in agriculture. Key areas covered include the development of effective risk assessment and mitigation techniques, as well as innovative financial instruments and structures that can encourage lending for climate-positive projects.
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Digital Tools and Resources for Climate Finance for Agriculture
Digital tools for climate finance for agriculture in SSA: This document provides a list of digital resources and platforms that support efforts to accelerate climate finance flows in the agriculture sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. The resources include interactive tools for assessing the impact of climate financing, training resources for enhancing climate-related and financial knowledge, and a directory of key networks for potential collaboration and information exchange.
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Topic
Agriculture
Climate Finance