Agri-voltaic farm in Colorado

[dan_b]

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/14/10549425 ... 3712736754

1.2MW solar farm, which also produces crops. In Colorado.

[AE-NMidlands]

I liked

Barron-Gafford's research in the Arizona desert showed some crops grown underneath solar panels needed 50% less water.

I guess if the panels are spaced and/or angled adequately you can get enough crop growth from the parts of the day when the ground is not shaded, whilst reducing the evaporative losses...
Pity there are no pictures, but I think it is a report of a radio broadcast!
A

[Mr Gus]

I seem to remember seeing this elsewhere, has it not already been posted?

I'd like to know the construction differences between a standard solar farm & a "plantable" agri-voltaic one, because obviously reducing food producing land is a big argument used against solar farms.

[Moxi]

I would think agri-voltaics would work well on large industrial size greenhouses where a degree of crop shading at times is welcome as well as the heat and it has the advantage that the green house is the frame so access beneath for crops is still readily available.

Yes the panels would de-rate due to temperature but if they are addons to an existing business the de-rated output should still be tempting.

Coupled with batteries they could even power grow lamps and ground source heat pumps to maintain longer growing periods for crops ??

Moxi

[billi]

For sure , first the roofs has to be fitted with PV , i guess more than enough space there !

on Land that is anyway sealed with concrete ( i do not hear much complaint about doing those construction )

The outcry then is big , when people in those non agricultural concreted areas , demand food , like little baby's wanting the mother s breast ....

Living in a concreted environment and for their sunday trip, for sure they do not want to see the landscape that is producing their food , their energy and their waste ... to return home to get back to work on Monday morning .... and think of energy coming just out of the socket ?

First , those people that live on sealed land with concrete and tar , need to be educated towards PV

Again , there is a lot of sealed city roofs to cover , first

and then see if those ideas make sense https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/press- ... -2018.html



Well on the otherhan its a good idea to activate farmers to see an different ab-roach

[Mr Gus]

I liked

Barron-Gafford's research in the Arizona desert showed some crops grown underneath solar panels needed 50% less water.

The stats sound great, 50% less is impressive, but impressive figures or not, should the crop be there? Is it 50% less but still 6x as much water consumed compared to.a less heat extreme growing area for example?


Otherwise it's a bit like saying "we can now kill a human with 50% less poison x"
Accountancy, not necessarily accountable.