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Renewable Energy in Farming

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Renewable Energy in Farming

Read the farm profile and study the energy-use table. Then complete the activities. Renewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight, wind and flowing water.

Profile: Greenhill Farm

Greenhill Farm is in County Clare. Its barn has solar panels that make electricity in daylight. A wind turbine generates electricity when the wind turns its blades. The farm also has a small stream, but it does not use the stream to make electricity. The farm uses electricity for milking equipment, lights and a water pump. On calm, cloudy days, it may need electricity from the national grid.

Farm activity

Electricity used

Milking equipment

12 kWh

Lights

5 kWh

Water pump

7 kWh

Investigate the farm

1.Which statement best explains why sunlight and wind are called renewable energy sources?

They are naturally replenished and do not run out in the same way as coal or oil.
They can only be used on farms.
They produce electricity every minute of every day.

2.The profile says the farm does not use its stream to make electricity. Which renewable energy source could use flowing water?

3.A farmer wants solar panels to receive as much sunlight as possible. Which barn roof direction is usually a good choice in Ireland, and why?

4.Use the table to calculate how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) Greenhill Farm uses altogether for these three activities on a typical day.

5.Which activity in the table uses the most electricity? How much more does it use than the activity with the lowest use?

6.Match each farm energy source to the description that fits it.

Solar energy
Wind energy
Hydropower

Uses moving air
Uses flowing water
Uses sunlight

7.On a calm, cloudy day, why might Greenhill Farm still need electricity from the national grid?

8.A neighbour worries that a wind turbine might affect the local landscape or wildlife. Give one question the farmer should investigate before choosing where to put it.

9.Explain one way renewable energy could benefit the environment and one reason a farm might still need to plan carefully before installing it.