How Solar Panels Are Revolutionising Agricultural Operations in the UK
Solar panels and agriculture are two words that have garnered a lot of controversy in the UK this past year. There has been a spike in the number of applications for solar farms. That has given many people concerns about solar farms taking up high-quality agricultural land and rendering it useless for farming.
The only problem is that these concerns might be out of proportion. Agriculture and solar panels can coexist. In fact, solar panels can even be beneficial to farms, transforming agricultural operations in a few ways.
This article will show you ways solar panels can positively impact agriculture and revolutionise farm operations.
Ways solar panels are revolutionising agriculture in the UK.
Solar panels block the plants from the light, and that seems terrible, but it isn’t so. A 2018 study showed that growing plants around solar panels might be great for the crops. That is due to the water efficiency the panels bring.
Here are a few other ways solar panels can help with agricultural operations:
- On-farm energy generation: With solar panels installed locally, farms can worry less about energy needs. It would reduce their reliance on traditional fossil fuels and electricity supplied by the state.
That would give them a predictable power source that they can count on. One they can use for farm operations without any restrictions.
- Reduced operational costs: Solar-powered farms have lower electricity bills, thanks to their reduced reliance on traditional energy sources. That reduces the costs of running a farm and leads to cost savings in the future.
Installation can be costly, but the profits would be worth it in a few years.
- Sustainability: Few industries see the effects of unsustainable practices as constantly as the agricultural industry. Many farms strive to create an eco-friendly environment to care for their crops and animals. That is one way to reduce the carbon footprint of your agricultural operations and step into clean energy.
- Effective land use: Solar panels can be an additional income stream for farms, maximising their gain on a single piece of land. Rather than producing a hypothetical ten units of yield, they can get six units of harvest and another six of solar power. They would profit more this way.
Besides, not every part of the farms has high-quality soil. These can be used for solar panels.
- Governmental support: The government has grants and incentives that support solar panel adoption. Your farm can benefit from those. That would ease the cost of installation and provide you with some more benefits in the future.
Conclusion
Solar panels are driving innovation in agricultural operations in the UK. That is why many farms are installing these devices on their lands. This has led to a high number of agrovoltaic setups, so your farm would be in good company.
If you want to be a part of this, simply reach out to a solar panel supplier like Solar Fasten and let them handle it. This would be a decision you won’t regret making.