Farming for crops — and for solar power

Be smart:

Farms' fundamental purpose has always been converting the sun's rays into energy. That energy has historically taken the form of calories — but agrivoltaics makes it possible for farmers to diversify their energy output, says Chad Higgins, an associate professor at Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences.

"Do they want to create electrons in the form of electricity? Or do they want to create calories in the form of food, or a mixture of both? What's the most profitable for them? What's best for them, given their available other resources?"Some farmers are skeptical, mostly due to practical concerns. It can be hard to drive a tractor in and around a bunch of solar panels, for instance.

The upfront cost of installing lots of solar panels can be prohibitive — although some states, like Massachusetts, areThat's trickier than it might sound — if producing solar power becomes dramatically more profitable than growing crops, and lots of farmers switch mostly or fully to solar, food shortages could follow.

Whether it makes sense for a farm to add solar also depends on whether there's an electric substation nearby. The further a substation, the more energy is lost in transmission — meaning it won't be economical to sell power into the grid.As researchers and early adopters figure out the best crops, tools and techniques to use — and more state, local and national governments support agrivoltaic efforts — expect to see lots more solar panels over the world's farmland in the coming years.

The link in the article for Jack's farm is terrific. Thanks for posting. Small woman run farm here. We are looking at all possibilities this next year. Solar investments are top of list.

Excellent niche use of solar power

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

World's first solar-powered carbon capture systems could help remove tonnes of CO₂The technology was developed by carbon capture company AspiraDAC, with its first customer Stripe aiming to install it this year. Everything is carbon...Wonder what they are removing from the surroundings.
Source: IntEngineering - 🏆 287. / 63 Read more »

To develop services for electric vehicles PA Turnpike jumps into solar powerPennsylvania officials are working with experts on a pilot project to electrify part of the highway, so drivers can power up while they drive. LOL! CA currently pays 32 cents a minute just under $20 an hour. Slow charge work best so that capacity is not impacted. Charge time= Battery Capacity (kWH) / Charge Time (kW) x.9 At best it's 5 hours but more likely 7-8 hours. BTW that's using fossil fuel chargers. Not all electricity is generated by fossil fuels.
Source: PennLive - 🏆 463. / 53 Read more »

Future-Facing CommoditiesFuture Facing Commodities will be the focus of mining companies as they follow the lead of BHP ands leave coal behind.
Source: cleantechnica - 🏆 565. / 51 Read more »

Scientists Grow Lead-Free Solar Material With Built-In SwitchSolar panels, also known as photovoltaics, rely on semiconductor devices, or solar cells, to convert energy from the sun into electricity.
Source: cleantechnica - 🏆 565. / 51 Read more »

Why Rooftop Solar Power Investments Are Worth It, & Why California Solar Net Metering Might Not Be Fair — Competing Op-EdsWe have some of the most informed readers in the world, but that doesn't mean they agree on everything. In fact, sometimes they have feverish yet well informed debates that genuinely use logic (rather than
Source: cleantechnica - 🏆 565. / 51 Read more »

The sun’s chromosphere is shades of golden in these new imagesThe Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope rests atop the sacred Hawaiian mountain and volcano Haleakalā. The colors are stunning.
Source: PopSci - 🏆 298. / 63 Read more »