Energy management in a citrus company is fundamental to economic and environmental sustainability, as post-harvest and irrigation processes have high energy demands. An effective strategy focuses on three pillars: measurement and monitoring, energy efficiency, and on-site energy generation.

1. Main Sources of Energy Consumption 💡

To manage energy, you first need to identify where it is consumed. In a citrus company, consumption is divided between the field and the packing house.

A. Packaging Plant (High Electrical Consumption)

• Industrial Refrigeration (Cold Storage): This is often the largest consumer of electricity, representing a significant portion of the total. It is vital for preserving fruit before and after packaging.
• Motors and Machinery: Conveyor belts, planers, dryers, electronic calibrators and industrial fans.
• Lighting: Lighting for large warehouses and industrial buildings.

B. Field and Irrigation (High Electricity/Fuel Consumption)

• Pumping Systems: Irrigation (especially drip irrigation) requires pumping large volumes of water. The pump motor, often electric, consumes a lot of energy.
• Agricultural Machinery: Tractors, sprayers and other equipment that consume diesel fuel.

2. Energy Efficiency Strategies (Central Focus)

Efficiency measures aim to reduce consumption without decreasing production or quality.

A. Optimization of Industrial Refrigeration

• Thermal Insulation: Ensure excellent insulation of cold storage rooms and pre-cooling tunnels to reduce the workload of the compressors.
• Heat Recovery Systems: Install equipment that takes advantage of the waste heat generated by the compressors for other uses, such as heating water for cleaning or drying fruit.
• High Efficiency Compressors: Replace obsolete equipment with compressors that have more efficient technologies and are controlled by frequency converters, which adjust the power to the actual demand.

B. Improvement of Machinery and Infrastructure

• High Efficiency Motors (IE3 or IE4): Replace conventional electric motors in the processing and ventilation line with high-performance models that reduce energy losses.
• LED lighting: Replace traditional lighting with LED systems with presence sensors in passageways and warehouses, reducing light consumption by up to 75%.
• Demand Management: Schedule the operation of non-critical equipment (e.g., pre-cooling) during off-peak hours with lower electricity rates, if the system allows it.

C. Irrigation Efficiency

• Precision Irrigation: Use moisture sensors and automated systems to irrigate only when strictly necessary, optimizing pump operating time.
• High Efficiency Pumps: Select pumps with optimal performance curves for the actual needs of the irrigation system.

3. Renewable Energy Generation (Self-Consumption) ☀️

The most strategic path in the citrus sector is the implementation of renewable energies, especially solar photovoltaics, for self-consumption.

• Photovoltaic Solar Energy (PV):
  • Location: The large roofs of the packaging warehouses are ideal for the installation of solar panels, allowing the company to generate a significant part of the electricity it consumes (successful cases have reached 88% self-sufficiency).
  • Viability: The consumption pattern of a citrus farm (high and constant, especially in cold storage and packing lines, which operate during daylight hours) aligns perfectly with solar energy production.
• Agrovoltaics (Emerging Model): Some pioneering projects are exploring the installation of elevated solar panels above citrus groves. While challenging, this approach seeks to maximize the land’s dual function: electricity production and cultivation.

By combining efficiency with PV self-consumption, the company significantly reduces operating costs, ensures supply stability in the face of market fluctuations, and decreases its carbon footprint, improving its sustainability image.