Divyesh Bhuva’s Post

Did you know that livestock, like sheep, have been used to help maintain grass levels for solar projects? And solar developments deliver benefits to landowners and their animals as well, including improving soil health, supporting water retention, nurturing native species and providing alternative income sources. Read the latest from CleanTechnica about this ‘beautiful symbiotic relationship’ between agriculture and renewable energy: https://lnkd.in/g9agvh5D 

"The base of each sun-tracking panel will be several feet off the ground, allowing enough room for the Tillard’s sheep to continue grazing. In a state whose ranching industry predates its inclusion in the union, pairing solar generation with livestock grazing or other agricultural practices, a technique called “agrivoltaics,” could forge an unlikely alliance between two industries — one ancient; the other, high tech — that typically compete for resources." I would love the opportunity to see one of these projects in full operation https://lnkd.in/gs6nKT8X

Sheep and pigs are becoming unlikely heroes of solar energy! Agrivoltaics, the practice of raising livestock under solar panels, is proving cost-effective for vegetation management on challenging terrain. #renewableenergy #sustainability

Sheep and pigs are becoming unlikely heroes of solar energy! Agrivoltaics, the practice of raising livestock under solar panels, is proving cost-effective for vegetation management on challenging terrain. #renewableenergy #sustainability

Reliable and sustainable electricity is a necessity that many Kansas farmers need for their daily operations. Learn more about why farmers are migrating to solar energy solutions. #solarenergy #farming #farmers #agriculture #energysolutions

Give the sheep what they want! '“You can reduce heat stress to plants by watering them more or shading them some,” Higgins said. “If you shade them some—which is what you’re going to do, for example, in a Wyoming project that’s on non-irrigated lands—you’re going to reduce some of that heat stress on those plants. Those plants tend to grow a little more, and as they grow a little more, the sheep take advantage of them.” The study found that, while the sheep grazing near the solar panels experienced a 38 percent drop in the quantity of grazable vegetation, that was offset by an increase in the available plants’ quality, as measured by the nutritional makeup of the vegetation’s tissue. Despite having access to less vegetation, the sheep grazing near solar panels “were gaining weight at their maximum rate,” and reached similar peak weights to sheep on the open field, Higgins said. “We actually had to fence the sheep in the open field to keep them in the open field, because, given the choice, they all preferred to be in the solar.”' #farmers #sheep #shade #climatesolutions #agrovoltaics #sheepapproved

LAMBscaping for solar projects? Yep, agriculture and solar farms are both benefiting from joint land use by allowing grazing sheep to maintain the grass growing under solar racking systems. Silicon Ranch Corporation is pursuing similar projects in #Louisiana. "Agrivoltaics" hold great potential for traditional farms to host solar systems while also continuing agricultural use. Shade-grown crops are another type of #agrivoltaics where the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation sees potential for a win-win approach to renewable energy and farming. #SolarPower #Energy #LouisianaJobs #EnrgyInnovation https://lnkd.in/gtf8PzjA

SolarEdge Technologies has revealed that its technology has been selected by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, for a research and demonstration program to explore the potential of dual-use agrivoltaics for farmers across the state. The research program's results and data will inform the establishment of a permanent dual-use solar program in New Jersey. The program includes three sites, each using a different panel mounting method to investigate the impact on agricultural production and electricity generation: 👉Rutgers Animal Farm in New Brunswick has vertically mounted bifacial panels and will be used for the production of forage crops and beef cattle grazing (170 kW DC installed and grid-connected) 👉Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown has single-axis trackers and will be used for hay production (94.5 kW DC installed and 82.4 kW DC grid-connected) 👉Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton has single-axis trackers with both single-wide and double-wide rows of panels and will be used for the production of vegetable and staple crops. “Agrivoltaics allows for expanded solar development to address climate change without the land-use challenges often associated with ground-mounted solar developments,” said Bertrand Vandewiele, General Manager of SolarEdge in North America. It can also benefit farmers, allowing a stable revenue stream and protection against climate hazards.” Shop SolarEdge in the link below: https://bit.ly/45QzRKH #solaredge #USSolar #Supplier #Solar #Inverters

We’re huge fans of agrivoltaics – the idea of using land for solar farms and livestock grazing. We’re practicing it on several of our community solar sites. To learn about our efforts, check out our blog post on the topic. And check out this article on agrivoltaics from Solar Power World: https://bit.ly/3LURM9D

Wyoming, not a state known for its acceptance of #renewableenergy, has seen a recent uptick in #agrivoltaics projects! Agrivoltaics is the combination of ranching or agriculture with the placement of ground-level solar panels. Read more about how agrivoltaics have become accepted in the Cowboy State in the article below!