How computer system cuts storage costs

Potato growers are optimising the use of home-generated energy for crop storage – thanks to a new computerised system.

Launched by Crop Systems, SmartSola enables users to make optimal use of their use of home-generated energy, while minimising their use of bought-in power – reducing their exposure to high energy costs.

The system monitors the energy generated from all available sources – solar power, hydro, wind or biomass – and then deploys and monitoring it to ensure optimum benefit across up to 10 potato stores.

Low running costs

Kent-based potato grower Philip Smith says SmartSola helps keep 3,500 tonnes of his crop in just-harvested condition at Monkton Court Farm, near Ramsgate. The system performs excellently and delivers low running costs, he says.

“We use around 300,000 kWh of electricity every year across our four stores,” says Mr Smith.

“With costs so high, we need to ensure we make best use of home-produced solar energy as possible.

The farm usually stores crops at 2.7ºC with a 0.2ºC differential.

When the solar panels are producing enough power in the day, Mr Smith takes the opportunity to over-cool to 2.5ºC – using SmartSola to intelligently control the store run times.

Solar panels

“Stores are switched on as the solar energy becomes available. On many days, stores run entirely on the energy generated by our own solar panels, avoiding imported energy completely.

“Then if the next day is dull and the panels cannot produce enough power we can avoid using mains electricity because the energy we need to run the store is effectively stored in the potatoes.

“The programme offers a great deal of flexibility, allowing the store manager to prioritise stores or set different parameters for each store. It has worked extremely well and has become an important tool in our store.”