The pig farm, which is featured with solar cells on the roof, is the first and largest solar photovoltaic pig farm in Taiwan. The farm, which costs more than 100 million NT dollars and covers an area of 2 hectares, was formally opened at DongShi Township (東勢鄉) on Feb. 16th. Magistrate Su ChihFen (蘇治芬) took a visit to the farm, and praised Chairman Chou ChinLai (周金來) for his efforts to promote environmental friendly green energy. She further stated that the county government will continually strive for funds, to provide more grant-in-aid and helps more poultryfarmers to build the solar photovoltaic systems.
Yunlin County is renowned for its agricultural production. Magistrate Su’s prospect is to build Yunlin into the agricultural capital of Taiwan. Through the assistance from the County government, the solar photovoltaic pig farm which is managed by chairman Chou ChinLai is finally opened at TongAn village (同安村), DongShi Township. This farm costs more than 100 million NT dollars. The facility’s capacity is nearly 1000 kilowatts (kW), and it generates more than 1.3 million kilowatt-hour (kW· h) annually. The annual revenues created by power generating are more than 10 million NT. The facility not only brings additional income to the farmer, but also changes people’s stereotype ideas on pig farm – filthy and ugly. The facility is becoming the best demonstration site to promote environmentally friendly green energy.
Magistrate Su ChihFen, who was accompanied by the Acting Chief of Economic Affairs Department Chang ShihChung (張世忠), the Director of Agriculture Department Lu ChengChang (呂政璋), and the Director of Environmental Protection Bureau Yeh TeHui (葉德惠), visited the photovoltaic farm. Chairman Chou ChinLai was particularly grateful for the assistance from the Magistrate Su and her team. Magistrate Su stated that: this farm is a new milestone of agricultural development in Yunlin County, and the glory of Yunlin. Chairman Chou’s photovoltaic farm is the most persuasive demonstration site (for green energy). To reduce the greenhouse gas and accelerate industry transformation, the county government will continually encourages corporations between the photovoltaic industry and farming industry. The county government expected to protect the environment, and develops industries on the same time, and ultimately achieves the goal of sustainable management.
Magistrate Su further stated that Yunlin County would have more than 20 of such photovoltaic farms completed if the central government didn’t change its solar energy policy. Therefore, Magistrate Su hopes that Council of Agriculture, Bureau of Energy, and Environmental Protection Bureau can work together, and provide more preferential subsidies for the solar photovoltaic industry.
Lu ChengChang, the Director of Agriculture Department, stated that Yunlin County is the nation’s largest producer of livestock industry and poultry farming. The wastes and gas produced by those animals are always a big issue for the locals. How to guide the livestock industry toward low-energy and low-pollution is always the most important issue of the county government. The realization of solar photovoltaic farm proves that agricultural industry can also be low-carbon (low greenhouse gas emission). Director Lu hopes that farmers within and out of the county can follow the example, and take some responsibility to protect the Earth.
Yeh TeHui, the Director of Environmental Protection Bureau, pointed out that greenhouse gases derived from livestock attracted international concerns in recent years, which is due to that the livestock industry mainly produce methane. Methane could trap 72 times more heat than the same mass of carbon dioxide. The government of New Zealand even introduced “fart tax” for the livestock to reduce greenhouse gases. Director Yeh suggests that the government should pay more attention on the ecological impacts caused by livestock.
Chang ShihChung, the Acting Chief of Economic Affairs Department, said that according to Photovoltaic industry information website [ http://solarpv.itri.org.tw/ ], Yunlin county has longest sunshine duration in Taiwan, which is capable to generate 3.66 kilowatt-hour (kW· h) per day in average, or 1,300 kilowatt-hour (kW· h) annually. Any farmhouse, which is not shade, firm structure, with license and property title deed, is qualified to apply the installation of solar photovoltaic equipments. The payback period for the return of the investment is about 7-9 years. Twenty years Return on investment (ROI) is over 10 percent.
Acting Chief Chang stated that, solar cells on farmhouse can effectively reduce room temperature and electricity bills. He hopes that there will be more farmers install solar cells on their farmhouse, and gradually change public’s stereotype (high pollution) on livestock industry.