Agrivoltaics, saving farms

[Old Rocks]

"Scientists measured photovoltaic deployments' effects on farmland over two decades. Results showed that farmers either construct their own systems or rent land to power companies. Each method proved lucrative.

System owners cover setup costs but receive massive returns via electricity income and lower utility expenses, while renters skip initial investments and collect regular lease payments.

System owners clear about $50,000 per acre after costs each year, which exceeds crop income. Land renters receive about $1,100 per acre with zero startup expenses. Water preservation is equally substantial."

MSN

Preserving water, income for farmers that is steady, and double use of land.

 

[cnm]

I don't know, growing commodities with ruinous inputs and negative returns seems like a much better deal...

 

[Maxdeath]

Means less land under cultivation, which means less food production. Which would be great if the population numbers were falling or remaining stable. Unfortunately population is still increasing. So hey we can at least starve knowing we are producing power that is slightly less environmentally damaging

 

[Old Rocks]

Means less land under cultivation, which means less food production. Which would be great if the population numbers were falling or remaining stable. Unfortunately population is still increasing. So hey we can at least starve knowing we are producing power that is slightly less environmentally damaging

Apparently you did not read the article. They are growing food under those panels. Agrivoltaics is using the land both to grow food and generate electricity. Quite often, they produce more food under the panels than they would otherwise because of the effect of preserving soil moisture.

 

[sparky]

Apparently you did not read the article. They are growing food under those panels. Agrivoltaics is using the land both to grow food and generate electricity. Quite often, they produce more food under the panels than they would otherwise because of the effect of preserving soil moisture.

they are growing food under hazmat Old one......~S~

 

[Darkwind]

Apparently you did not read the article. They are growing food under those panels. Agrivoltaics is using the land both to grow food and generate electricity. Quite often, they produce more food under the panels than they would otherwise because of the effect of preserving soil moisture.

So, they've solved the whole "Sunlight" for growth problem, then?

 

[justoffal]

Apparently you did not read the article. They are growing food under those panels. Agrivoltaics is using the land both to grow food and generate electricity. Quite often, they produce more food under the panels than they would otherwise because of the effect of preserving soil moisture.

This is an innovative combination of old and new
A better way forward I think.

 

[ReinyDays]

The Oklahoma Cattle Rancher doesn't pump his oil when beef prices are good ... and throwing up a wind turbine over the oil pump is a no-brainer ...

The problem is still communicating the energy ... the wind farm in the Columbia Gorge was built next to BPA's trunk lines ... two of them to California ... and California is made of money ...

If agrivoltage was profitable ... Exxon would already being doing it ... otherwise let each farm adapt to her own needs ... the Rooftop Solar principle ...

 

[Maxdeath]

Apparently you did not read the article. They are growing food under those panels. Agrivoltaics is using the land both to grow food and generate electricity. Quite often, they produce more food under the panels than they would otherwise because of the effect of preserving soil moisture.

I find it hard to believe that they get much yield from plants constantly in shadow. Last I knew plants needed sunlight for photosynthesis. But then again I still believe men are men and women are women

 

[justoffal]

I find it hard to believe that they get much yield from plants constantly in shadow. Last I knew plants needed sunlight for photosynthesis. But then again I still believe men are men and women are women

There are some types of plants that do well in indirect sunlight....some types of solar panels are translucent....letting some light through.
Moisture preservation is also Big ....

Having said all of that ..... Solar is nothing more than pie in the sky as far as long term base power load is concerned.....it may have some marginal benefits for small to mid sized farms however.

I would like to see the ROI numbers.

Jo

 

[Maxdeath]

There are some types of plants that do well in indirect sunlight....some types of solar panels are translucent....letting some light through.
Moisture preservation is also Big ....

Having said all of that ..... Solar is nothing more than pie in the sky as far as long term base power load is concerned.....it may have some marginal benefits for small to mid sized farms however.

I would like to see the ROI numbers.

Jo

actually when you consider the amount of energy needed to mine and build the panels they are not that much of an energy investment and we are outstripping any benefit because we are using more and more power

 

[justoffal]

actually when you consider the amount of energy needed to mine and build the panels they are not that much of an energy investment and we are outstripping any benefit because we are using more and more power

That's what I thought.....
It's amazing that when you get down to the actual numbers.....the truth generally finds away out into the open.

 

[sparky]

actually when you consider the amount of energy needed to mine and build the panels they are not that much of an energy investment and we are outstripping any benefit because we are using more and more power

folks that can do the math know this is nothing more than virtue signaling Max....~S~

 

[sparky]

If we took a average common solar panel installed in the last 15 years, smashed it up in a big bucket of water, the contents would likely include the following:

Organized alphabetically:

- Aluminum (Al)

- Aluminum-doped Zinc Oxide (AZO)

- Boron (B)

- Cadmium Sulfide (CdS)

- Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)

- Copper (Cu)

- Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)

- Gallium (Ga)

- Glass

- Hydrogen (H)

- Indium (In)

- Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)

- Lead (Pb)

- Molybdenum (Mo)

- Phosphorus (P)

- Plastic and Polymers

- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

- Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB)

- Selenium (Se)

- Silicon (Si)

- Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

- Silver (Ag)

- Sodium (Na)

- Tedlar (PVF)

- Water (H20)

- Zinc Oxide (ZnO)

Which of these chemicals and constituents are you fine with over your commercial food supply?

~S~

 

[Concerned American]

There are some types of plants that do well in indirect sunlight....some types of solar panels are translucent....letting some light through.
Moisture preservation is also Big ....

Having said all of that ..... Solar is nothing more than pie in the sky as far as long term base power load is concerned.....it may have some marginal benefits for small to mid sized farms however.

I would like to see the ROI numbers.

Jo

I have seen limited use to power irrigation pumps by CA almond farmers, but that is about the extent of it.

 

[Maxdeath]

If we took a average common solar panel installed in the last 15 years, smashed it up in a big bucket of water, the contents would likely include the following:

Organized alphabetically:

- Aluminum (Al)

- Aluminum-doped Zinc Oxide (AZO)

- Boron (B)

- Cadmium Sulfide (CdS)

- Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)

- Copper (Cu)

- Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)

- Gallium (Ga)

- Glass

- Hydrogen (H)

- Indium (In)

- Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)

- Lead (Pb)

- Molybdenum (Mo)

- Phosphorus (P)

- Plastic and Polymers

- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

- Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB)

- Selenium (Se)

- Silicon (Si)

- Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

- Silver (Ag)

- Sodium (Na)

- Tedlar (PVF)

- Water (H20)

- Zinc Oxide (ZnO)

Which of these chemicals and constituents are you fine with over your commercial food supply?

~S~

Not to mention the diesel needed to mine those ingredients. The gasoline need to get people back and forth to the mine. The electricity needed, the water and other materials. Plus the coal that was possibly used to create the electricity.
Then we start talking about the diesel to plant and harvest the plants. The weed and bug killers.

 

[ReinyDays]

Which of these chemicals and constituents are you fine with over your commercial food supply?

~S~

Well ... silicone dioxide and water for sure ... phosphorous is a vital nutrient ... [giggle] ...

Your should see what's put in the concrete footings ...

 

[Dekster]

I think you pretty much need to forfeit "farmer" as your occupation if you fill your fields with solar panels instead of crops or livestock.

 

[JohnDB]

Have to agree....farm voltaics are for idiots.
Farms use electricity....but need more mechanical energy than Electricity which after transmission can transform back into mechanical energy.

Windmills are great as they are mechanical energy that are customarily used to pump water....more mechanical energy used....no transformation.

Aerable Farmland is a valuable resource. We do NOT need to destroy it by covering it with solar panels.

Fertile Soil is not static....it has life cycles with bacteria, enzymes, biological compounds and decomposition in various stages of life cycles.

And
Where pesticides, glycol, fertilizers and certain crops can destroy soils over time. However, careful husbandry and restorative practices can bring it back to fertility and profitability again.

Solar panels will destroy soils due to the blocking of the sun. Nobody has to mow the weeds under solar panels..

The USA once had enough Fertile Soil to feed the planet....the technology, processing plants, and the equipment to pull it off too. However we have built subdivisions in the suburbs...where the farms are.

But that doesn't mean that we have extra to spare.

 

[Old Rocks]

The Oklahoma Cattle Rancher doesn't pump his oil when beef prices are good ... and throwing up a wind turbine over the oil pump is a no-brainer ...

The problem is still communicating the energy ... the wind farm in the Columbia Gorge was built next to BPA's trunk lines ... two of them to California ... and California is made of money ...

If agrivoltage was profitable ... Exxon would already being doing it ... otherwise let each farm adapt to her own needs ... the Rooftop Solar principle ...

Another fool that failed to read the article. The farmers that have the capital to invest in the solar panels over their agricultural endeavors are making about $50,000 an acre off the panels, often more than the produce brings in. Those that rent their space to the utilities make about $1100 an acre, as well as the income the produce brings in. And the farmers are doing it both ways as we post.