The erratic implementation of load-shedding schedules is costing the local food production industry millions of rands every month, says energy solutions provider Energy Partners.

“From primary production through to the consumer, the food supply chain is impacted as farmers are dependent on electricity for key processes such as irrigation, livestock care and harvesting,” states Energy Partners heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration head Dawie Kriel.

The biggest problem for primary production is the uncertainty around load-shedding schedules, which sees farmers having to halt manufacturing processes once they are in progress.

In the dairy industry, Energy Partners says, the infrastructure to support milk production operates predictably every day according to cows’ biorhythms.

Kriel explains that once the fresh milk is in the silo, it has to be treated, cooled and transported to a dairy plant for processing very carefully to ensure that its quality and safety are maintained. Once in the factory, the milk needs to be kept at a specific temperature and then processed through a series of heating and cooling stages to provide milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter and many other products.

Moreover, he points out, the cooling plant is a crucial element and a big energy user in the production process and needs to run 24/7, 365 days a year. Though solar and wind energy can assist, is not ideal for this type of load and has to be integrated with a form of standby power generation.

An efficient alternative is to look at trigeneration or combined cooling, heating and power systems, where heating and cooling are generated simultaneously using one, affordable energy source, such as gas or coal.

Power interruptions also have an impact on the safe handling and storage of perishable foods in the retail sector. The reason for this is that, if the cold chain is disrupted, shelf life is affected and shop owners either have to remove affected products from their shelves, or face unhappy customers that return inedible products.

To minimise the effect of load-shedding for retailers, Kriel says, owners must be as energy- efficient-conscious as possible and energy use must be monitored closely. Also, owners can invest in standby generation and solar power, especially if they trade mostly during daylight hours.