Use of Renewable Energy in Dairy Industry

Abstract

Today India has become number one in milk production, producing 140 million tons per annum with approx. 20% of the total milk production is handled by the organized sectors. Dairy and food industries are fast growing industries and day-by-day newer technologies are being introduced to get better quality of foods. Most of the milk processing operations, room conditioning for milk product packaging and cold stores for milk milk products are operating on grid electric supply. Energy is one of the critical inputs for economic development of any Country. In order to overcome the present energy scenario problems, energy should be conserved and since we are consuming disproportionate amount of energy that day is not far when all our Non-Renewable resources will expire forcing us to rely just on Renewable Sources. To overcome problem the use of renewable energy mainly solar bio energy in the dairy is generally found for hot water supply to boiler, hot water generator for processing of milk or for CIP cleaning. Use of renewable energy has great scope for its commercial use in the dairy processing operations and It is estimated that renewable energy could contribute to at least half of all electric power in each of the large economies by 2050.