Latest news on photovoltaic panels for farmers

Can agrivoltaics save farmers money?

While agrivoltaics could save farmers money on irrigation and electricity, or provide an extra source of cash if they sell electricity to the grid, installing solar panels is a significant upfront cost. Despite the challenges, agrivoltaics projects are being installed around the world.

Could agrivoltaics be a boon for crop production?

Agrivoltaics is pretty low-tech. Instead of being placed 18 to 36 inches off the ground, as in traditional solar farms, the solar panels are raised significantly higher to accommodate grazing animals and to allow more sunlight to reach plants growing beneath them. The approach could be a boon for both energy generation and crop production.

Will agrivoltaics succeed?

“For those that want agrivoltaics to succeed, we want to see research and incentives for solar firms to make those investments to accommodate things like solar grazing,” said Lexie Hain, director of agrivoltaics and land management at Lightsource bp and founder of the American Solar Grazing Association.

Do agrivoltaics increase crop yields?

Many crops grown here, including corn, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, wheat and pasture grass have already been proven to increase with agrivoltaics. Studies from all over the world have shown crop yields increase when the crops are partially shaded with solar panels.

What does the new photovoltaic law mean for agriculture?

Last year’s law aims to redress the balance and prevent this from occurring in the future. “Before the law of 2023, photovoltaic projects in agriculture were highly disparate across the country, with some local authorities allowing all projects to go ahead, and others systematically blocking them in the name of agriculture.

What is a photovoltaic system?

A photovoltaic system (PV system) is a more scientific word for the typical solar panel (or PV module) system we think of when we say “solar energy.” The USDA wants to incentivize farmers to make the upgrade toward more renewable energy systems. That’s apparent by their investment in sustainability climate smart agriculture projects.