Farmers may improve food output by installing solar panels while forcing the emission-free electric grid.
Fremont, CA: As eco-consumer rates in the US rise, different companies are watching for ways to decrease emissions. The agricultural sector is the leading polluter, demanding technical innovation to secure its long-term viability. Solar panels, including farmland and water supplies, can boost clean energy generation and promote land conservation for agricultural development. Environmentalists are looking into the benefits of harnessing solar power to support farmers.
Covering low-light plants
As the world's temperature increases, farmers find it hard to grow numerous light- and heat-intolerant crops. High-demand foods such as tomatoes, leaf lettuce, spinach, broccoli, squash, and others require shade to achieve ideal growth cycles. Solar panels can shade low-light plants, allowing farmers to raise their harvests.
Agrivoltaics is a word invented by environmentalists to explain farming operations that use solar panels. Since the plants cool the solar systems as they sweat, the panels protect the crops from light-related harm. When renewable devices overheat, their efficiency decreases, enabling low-light crops to maintain their output rates.
Flotovoltaic covered canals
Farming requires a large amount of fresh water. As the global temperature increases, so does the evaporation rate, resulting in prolonged droughts in some areas. Environmental engineers and scientists proposed placing panels over canals as a long-term solution.
Floatovoltaic panels have the potential to encourage the country's clean energy supply as well as the availability of freshwater for agricultural growth. Solar panels are also being used by the agricultural business to protect natural resources. The industries can work together to decrease negative environmental effects and boost resource conservation efforts.
Integrating agriculture and solar energy
Even though solar panels appear to be a straightforward way to support agricultural productivity, many farmers are hesitant to accept the technology. Many farmers cannot grasp the advantages of installing equipment on their wide fields. They debate that the panels occupy too much space and slow production. In rural places, other experts perceive solar as a political statement.
Solar is the most profitable energy source in the country, allowing farmers to save money on utility bills. Agricultural professionals can also produce passive money by marketing excess clean electricity to the grid. Farmers can also support their livestock's health by enhancing local air quality with renewable energy.
