Largest Farm to Grow Crops Under Solar Panels Proves To Be A Bumper Crop For Agrivoltaic Land Use::undefined
Start putting solar canopies over all these goddamn mostly empty parking lots we have everywhere. Completely wasted space otherwise and it’d provide some cover from the rain for people coming and going from their cars.
Plus you’d lower the temperature of the vehicles, reducing air conditioning and decreasing fuel/battery use, which would further decrease emissions
No one ever brings this up, but the heat island effect might be diminished? Not sure how the math works out there.
Or abandon the min parking reqs so developers can build something else there. But also solar panels where we actually need parking space
Yeah, build something other than a parking lot, and put a solar panel on top of that! 🧠
I guess it would depend on the crops, but wouldn’t it somewhat limit the use of farming equipment. I assume you’re not going to fit a tractor in the field with those panels and supports.
It depends on the type of supporting structure for the panels. In Germany a company built it tall enough to use their normal farm equipment: Image
I’ve seen pictures of massive tractors pulling several ploughs side by side in the US, that would most likely not work with this, but there are plenty of solutions for anything on a slightly smaller scale.
There’s lots of startups making smaller agile AI powered electric robotics for agriculture. Would pair well with a farm like this.
They use robotic equipment mixed with occasional human support. It’s possible but it’s a high tech farm, quite expensive and thus not open to every farmer. Tractors, even small ones, are quite huge for that kind of farming practice.
It’s usually permanent pasture grazing that’s mixed with solar panels. Take low value land that doesn’t support the use of large equipment, add value with panels and get free shade for livestock.
Agrivoltaics is the combined use of solar panels and agriculture under the panels that together use less energy and produce more crops. It can also provide shade for livestock.
As this is not mentioned, is it possible to extend the system by collecting rainwater falling on solar panels ?
Possibly a stupid question, but is there anything toxic in the solar panels or their infrastructure that could contaminate the plants or soil below? Particularly if the panels were damaged in, say, extreme weather, but also as a result of general wear and tear. I’m thinking heavy metal dust, carcinogenic liquid components, that sort of thing. As per the article this seems like it could be a good land use pairing, but not if it renders the soil unfit for agriculture due to a buildup of contamination.
most electronics have lead, i think thatd be the main thing .
Not really. Not for the last 20 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restriction_of_Hazardous_Substances_Directive
I’ve heard of the panels burning down making fhe field unsafe for use in the future
This is so cool!
