The conversion of the available energy all around us into usable forms does not occur by magic. Various types of capital investment are required to accomplish this process, which varies from the column of the ethanol still to the manure collection systems for methane to the screw presses required to separate the vegetable oil from the meal of the oilseed. At this point we are discussing oilseed crush to separate oil from the seed using rotary screw presses.
Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems operates oilseed crush equipment operated on renewable energy alone. We realize it is a high standard, but it is in line with the energy independent model we live by. We have searched the world for cost-effective systems that can be operated with minimum maintenance and require the least maintenance. We have found this equipment in India. Because of the centuries of experience working with oilseeds and a very decentralized farming system, equipment of all shapes and sizes may be obtained appropriate to each application which are both cost effective and durable. One must be careful, however, not all presses are created equally and there is a lot of junk on the market. Our partnership with Indian companies has expanded greatly and we enjoy working with these English speaking, pro-US folks who are part of the other great democracy in the world!
The ability to add value to and/or extract energy from agricultural raw materials will be a differentiator for farmers and renewable energy producers that make a profit in the coming years. The artificially depressed compensation for collecting the energy stored in ag commodities will become more obvious as the payments dwindle and land rents skyrocket. In our opinion, producers need to revisit the age old models that have kept the farm energy independent for eons. Likewise, the high input cost for vegetable oils has left many biodiesel producers where to get their next load of feedstock.
The NRES farm scale oilseed pressing operation is currently being expanded with the construction of a new building on the farm. This will most likely be a focus area for our interns in summer '08. This new operation will be a permanent installation and the mobile platform will no longer be used at the farm. This will allow better cold weather utilization of the equipment and utilize more augers for material handling. The oilseed crush operation at the farm is scaled to fit within the Energy Farm Process Loop and to perform those functions as an integral part of the loop.
NRES has toured and worked with many oilseed processing facilities across the US and India and we were always very impressed with these operations and the resourcefulness shown in each application. Although the same basic principals are used throughout the industry, each facility has developed their own 'twist' on things and developed what works best for them.
The oilseed press is the key piece of equipment that allows the individual to access the vegetable oil based renewable energy being grown in the field. Pressed oil has a number of uses from feed to fuel and NRES can assist in system design to fit your specific application. For more information regarding oilseed press systems and equipment, contact NRES or please go to www.nebraskascrewpress.com.
