Solar Power Is Gaining Traction With Farmers
As energy companies explore innovative ways to increase clean power production and gain public support for new projects, many solar firms are investing in developing dual-purpose operations that utilise agricultural land for solar farms. A common criticism of solar farms is that installing panels on arable land for the sole purpose of energy production restricts land use for other purposes.…
Solar power is gaining traction with farmers as energy companies develop dual-use agricultural sites for both solar farms and farming practices. This approach, known as agrivoltaics or agrophotovoltaics, addresses concerns about land use competition and restrictions. Solar panels installed above or around farmland allow crops to receive sunlight while providing shade during peak hours.
Additionally, water evaporating from the soil is reduced due to the panels' shade. In California, a project aims to develop 136,000 acres of abandoned farmland with up to 21 GW of solar panels and battery storage, enough to power over 10 million homes by 2045. Virginia has also recognized the potential of agrivoltaics by codifying a state definition and requiring utilities to develop renewable energy sources, including solar power.
Europe is exploring agrivoltaics too, with research suggesting it could generate hundreds of gigawatts of solar capacity using a small fraction of agricultural land. Developing these dual-use sites could benefit farmers facing climate change challenges and provide additional income, while also garnering public and government support for renewable energy projects.
Written by urgent.news from OilPrice's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
