Photovoltaic panels in rural pig farms

Are solar panels a good fit for your farm?

Solar panels can increase your operation’s profitability. One government grant program for solar panels on farms is called the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Why solar energy may be a good fit for your farmers and ranchers Tips and funding opportunities for solar projects on your farm

Is grazing cattle under solar panels a good idea?

There is growing interest in grazing cattle underneath solar panels. This year, the Energy Department launched the Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize, providing millions of dollars for research around solar development and cattle grazing.

How can livestock manage vegetation under solar panels?

Foraging livestock can manage vegetation under solar arrays, which can be considered at the early phases of solar planning and installation by seeding appropriately and raising modules, wires, and electrical boxes. Livestock can reduce the maintenance costs of trimming beneath panels and reduce the need to use herbicide.

Can solar grazing help farmers feed their flocks?

A herd of sheep move between rows of photovoltaic panels at the Azure Sky solar project in Haskell County, Tex. Solar grazing helps farmers feed their flocks while the expanding solar industry provides more clean energy to the grid.

What is agrivoltaics and how can it benefit the solar industry?

For the solar industry, agrivoltaics has the potential to facilitate siting of solar installations, improve solar PV panel performance by cooling the panels, and lower operations and maintenance costs by limiting the need for mowing.

Should agricultural crops be co-located with solar panels?

There are both benefits and tradeoffs of co-locating agricultural crops with solar installations. In arid climates, for example, there might be higher yields with lower watering requirements; in extremely wet environments, panel spacing and other factors play an important role in managing on-site water distribution and eventual yields.