It is no secret that energy prices have risen considerably over recent years, with the vast majority of us keen to find ways to reduce our monthly bills. This is even more so for farmers, whose trade requires a considerable output of energy to continue agricultural production. For this reason, farmers are looking at the possibility of installing solar panels in their fields to harness the sun’s rays to convert into electricity.
Solar energy generated in fields
It is more and more common these days to see solar panels on top of houses in many neighbourhoods; in addition, farmers are choosing to use some of their field space for vertical panel installations. This ingenious idea means some of the sun’s power can be harnessed alongside more traditional farming activities, contributing back to the grid and reducing the owner’s energy bills.
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A welcome addition to the farm
The practice of combining solar energy with agriculture is known as agrivoltaics. An unexpected benefit of having vertical solar panels in a farm field is that they act as a natural windbreak or even a solar-panelled hedgerow; as a result, farm animals such as sheep and cows can continue to graze happily amongst the rows of solar panels.
A low-cost option
Fortunately, the price of solar panels has reduced in recent years, making this a more affordable opportunity for farmers who have land to spare in a sunny spot. Of course, another major benefit of solar panels being installed in this way is that it forms part of our commitment to a greener planet while contributing to the government’s net zero targets, according to Solar Energy UK’s factsheet.
Other benefits of solar panels on farmland
Crops in the fields also benefit from receiving shelter from the wind; what’s more, farm vehicles such as tractors and combine harvesters have space to navigate around the solar panels, so the majority of farming practices can continue apace.