Farmers and researchers are experimenting with installing solar panels on active agricultural land in a new field called agrovoltaics.
Because it is important? As the world moves away from fossil fuels, solar energy will undoubtedly be part of the post-carbon energy mix.
However, there is only so much land that can be efficiently converted for single-use solar power generation, that dual-purpose projects such as voltaic agriculture come close.
For farmers, many of whom face an uncertain future due to climate change, the hope is that solar power can "make" additional money.
How solar panels installed on farmers' crops generate electricity that can then be sold to energy suppliers and fed into the electricity grid for community use.
Plants that grow in the shade, such as leafy vegetables such as kale and lettuce, or root vegetables such as radishes and beets, protected from direct sunlight.
Meanwhile, plants naturally release moisture, which can help cool the solar cells from below, increasing their efficiency.
the current situation. AgroVolt pilot projects are being implemented in the United States in the following countries:
Rockport, Maine, where University of Maine researchers studied the effects of solar panels installed on more than 11 acres of blueberry farmland.
Grafton, Massachusetts, where farmers teamed up with scientists from the University of Massachusetts to see which crops do better under solar panels.
Longmont, Colorado, is home to Jack's Solar Park, which bills itself as the nation's largest commercial site for agricultural research.
be clever. The main goal of agriculture has always been to convert sunlight into energy. This energy has historically come in the form of calories, but agribusiness allows farmers to diversify their energy production, said Chad Higgins, a professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University.
“Do they want to produce electrons in the form of electricity, or do they want to produce calories in the form of food, or a combination of both? What is more profitable for them, and best for them, given the other resources available to them?”
Yes, but some farmers are skeptical mainly because of practical problems. For example, it can be difficult to drive a tractor in and around the rows of solar panels.
The initial cost of installing multiple solar panels can be prohibitive, although some states, such as Massachusetts, are experimenting with financial incentives.
It's not as complicated as it seems. If solar power generation becomes significantly more profitable than growing crops and many farmers switch to solar power mostly or entirely, food shortages may occur.
Whether adding solar power makes sense for the farm also depends on having an electrical substation nearby. The further away from the substation, the greater the loss of energy in the transmission, which means that it is not profitable to sell electricity to the network.
And then? As researchers and early adopters learn about the best crops, tools, and technologies to use, and more state, local, and national governments support PV efforts, they expect to see more solar panels on farms around the world in the coming years.
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