Leading Dairy Cooperative Embraces Solar Energy to Drive Transformation

In a significant move towards sustainable energy, Manfrey, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in Argentina, has installed 92 solar panels to power its robotic dairy farm. The initiative marks the beginning of a broader transformation effort to incorporate renewable energy across its operations.

With an investment totaling $2.5 million, Manfrey is set to construct a second module in its Freyre-based plant, located in the San Justo department of Córdoba. The cooperative's president, Ércole Felipa, shared that the project aligns with their environmental responsibility goals.

Manfrey's commitment to green practices spans several years, focusing on effluent treatment, site landscaping with 800 trees, optimizing cow conditions, and generating solar energy. The newly installed 50kW photovoltaic system, an investment of approximately $50,000, enables the production of about 85,000 kWh annually, contributing to the clean energy powering the dairy farm.

The first robotic unit currently hosts about 300 cows, each producing an average of 35 liters of milk daily. The cooperative's strategic plan involves four modules, with plans to complete the second module by year-end. Beyond solar energy, future expansions will include digestors for methane gas production.