You may be familiar with using propane on the farm for grain drying or barn heating, but did you know you can use propane in other innovative ways?
Today, propane is providing producers with an efficient and economical alternative to traditional fuels irrigation pumps.
While new to the Prairies, propane is commonly used to power irrigation pumps in the U.S., where they help move water from wells and surface sources to crops with no drop-off in performance.
In Western Canada, propane-powered irrigation pumps can be used to help produce grass, sod and turf, as well as any irrigated crop.
Benefits
On average, propane-powered irrigation engines produce 24 per cent fewer emissions compared to other fuels. A few other environmental benefits of propane include:
- Propane is safely transported and used reliably across Canada every day.
- Contamination of soil or water does not occur in the event of a leak, because propane turns into vapour and evaporates into the air.
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions relative to traditional fuel sources.
- Lower associated cost of emissions in carbon-pricing structures because propane emits few greenhouse gases relative to traditional fuel sources.
- Propane is a stable fuel source and its quality does not diminish over time during extended storage periods.
Propane-powered engines offer a cost-savings solution to producers, typically costing 30 to 50 per cent less per litre than other fuel sources.. As a clean-burning fuel, there are also fewer harmful deposits left in an engine, resulting in lower maintenance costs over the life of the engine.
For more information on propane services from Co-op, including bulk delivery and tank installation and service, contact your local Co-op Propane office.