Λίστα αντικειμένων
New studies conducted by the Oregon State University (OSU) show that installing solar panels and photovoltaic energy systems in farmland and pastures can not only provide energy without harmful emissions, but also create conditions for improved agricultural productivity.
The concept of combining solar power and conventional agriculture on the same stretch of land is called agrivoltics.
Installing solar energy systems above just 1% of the agricultural land in the world would be sufficient to meet global electricity consumption.
In addition, the results show that growing plants under and around photovoltaic panels creates microclimates and habitats that are conducive to crop growth, water conservation and biodiversity enhancement, especially for pollinators.
Scientists guarantee that the development and implementation of this practice in the future will be able to feed up to 10 billion people on the planet, while producing enough energy for it.
"This will avoid water-land and energy conflicts" Higgins says. The potential for water and land conflicts is increasing in parallel with the scarcity of these natural resources.
The project aims to prove that digital solar energy and solar storage systems play a central role in building sustainable agriculture worldwide.
Social enterprises and investors are teaming up with small farmers and larger farm owners in less developed countries to reduce food waste, such as losses.
The development of agricultural science will lead to the production of the right products at the right time in a climate-friendly and market-friendly manner, according to project experts.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India (MNRE) has issued guidelines for a program whose main purpose is to increase India's solar capacity by 25.75 GigaWatts by 2022. A crucial part is the spread of individual and linked to the network solar pumps of the farmers throughout the country.
In London, UK-based solar energy developer Lightsource BP has recently signed long-term leases of 500 acres of seven farmland in Franklin County to build a 70-megawatt solar farm. The deal is defined as the largest solar installation in the country.
Farmers not only want to install solar photovoltaic systems to meet their own energy needs, better manage water and agricultural resources. They also seek to generate additional revenue, offset their market losses, and any other risks associated with higher yields and livestock rearing.
According to scientists at Oregon State University, the project will lead to major changes. However, in order to turn agri-volatics into a real working system of the future, more innovations and research will be needed.
"Overcoming traditional, conventional attitudes towards agriculture, energy and water use can be the biggest and most fundamental obstacle. We are working with companies and individual donors to create a commercially demonstrable sustainable agriculture for the future"says Assoc. Prof. Chad Higgins.
Source: www.agri.bg
Photo: Thibault Frisson
