Solar panels are a great way to increase your farm's financial health and land productivity. Solar panels will keep crops cooler during the day, which will keep your crop's moisture level higher and help prevent damage from frost and hail. These panels protect crops from drying and keep them warm at night.
Solar panels can also reduce your electricity bills. In fact, one California almond sheller installed a solar-powered 45,000-square-foot processing facility, and offset 90 percent of the electricity his family used during the drought.
While solar on farmland may not be a new concept in America, it is still a very new phenomenon. Agrivoltaics, also known as farm-based, is the next step toward increasing solar energy's contribution. With the advancement of solar technology, more farmers will install solar arrays in order to offset the cost of electricity.
There is still much to be learned about farm-based solar. While the technology is relatively new, there are many farmers who have already found some surprising benefits from solar projects. Recent research from the University of Maine showed that solar panels increased the amount of wild blueberries grown on a patch of land. The solar panels also had a positive effect on overall growth.
In addition to boosting the production of food, solar on farmland can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As solar technology improves, so will the number of agrivoltaic system builders. The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program is working to increase the deployment of farm-based solar by providing financial incentives to developers.