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Towards energy self-sufficient agriculture

Teilnehmer des Res4Live Treffens am ATB (Foto: Foltan/ATB)

Teilnehmer des Res4Live Treffens am ATB (Foto: Foltan/ATB)

Participants of the EU-funded project Res4Live (Energy smart livestock farming - towards zero fossil fuel consumption) met at ATB on 24 and 25 November to discuss results and coordinate next steps. 

After two days of intensive discussions, an excursion to LVAT in Groß Kreutz on Friday provided an opportunity to experience the progress made in the project work: the new CNG terminal is ready for operation. In future, tractors will be able to refuel here with the energy produced in the farm's own biogas plant.

The overall goal of RES4LIVE is to provide advanced and cost-effective technologies for the livestock sector to improve the sustainability of farms and increase their productivity without harming the climate.
Res4Live involves 17 partners from 8 countries. The consortium consists of 4 universities, 4 research institutions, 6 SMEs, 1 farm and 2 international associations. 

More information on the Res4Live project:https://res4live.eu/

Background:
Animal husbandry is one of the most energy-intensive sectors of agriculture. It mainly uses fossil fuels. However, across the EU, the aim is to develop livestock farming towards more sustainability and decarbonisation of energy demand in livestock facilities. Decreasing costs, more reliable and efficient key renewable energy technologies (e.g. photovoltaics, heat pumps, biogas) increase the incentive to use these technologies also in agriculture. RES4LIVE aims to develop solutions for the use of renewable energies and energy efficiency technologies, machines and techniques in agriculture, taking into account the needs of practice.

Contact ATB: Prof. Dr Thomas Amon