Farmer s solar power generation installation

How can farmers benefit from solar energy?

Farmers can benefit from solar energy in several ways—by leasing farmland for solar; installing a solar system on a house, barn, or other building; or through agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics is defined as agriculture, such as crop production, livestock grazing, and pollinator habitat, located underneath solar panels and/or between rows of solar panels.

Should solar energy be located on farmland?

Locating solar energy on farmland could significantly increase the available land for solar development, while maintaining land in agricultural production and expanding economic opportunities for farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry.

Can solar power a farm?

Whereas oil and gas wells require a minimum of 5-10 acres of land, solar can be deployed to whatever scale a farm owner desires or is able to accommodate (MineralWise, n.d.). This means that solar can be developed on land that is already unused or unirrigated by farmers, minimizing disruptions to existing farm production.

Should farmers invest in solar power?

While a farmer’s opportunity to capitalize on mineral rights is entirely dependent on whether or not there is an accessible oil or gas basin, photovoltaics are an economically viable investment for landowners across the country, and solar power is at its most productive (Adeh et al. 2019, 11442) when installed on croplands (McDonnell 2020).

How do you Adapt A solar installation for agrivoltaics?

Another common way to adapt the design of a solar installation for agrivoltaics is to increase the spacing between panels and between rows, which allows for additional sunlight to reach the crops and increases the accessibility of the site to equipment.

Should farmers use agrivoltaics?

However, agrivoltaics can allow farm families to diversify their revenue streams, allowing farmers to keep their operations in business instead of having to sell generations of farming legacy off to the highest bidder.