HOW SOLAR ENERGY IS SAVING THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY
The agricultural industry is the world’s leading source of food as well as other product such as oil and timber.
Animals
Plants
Fungi
Medicinal plants
Vegetables
Fruits
Grains
Food for livestock
Until we all become self-sustainable, which is a long time coming if at all, it is essential that we ensure the sustainability of the industry. Sustainability includes reliance on renewable energy over finite resources. Long-term development includes efficiency and sustainability.
Renewable energy can save the average farmer hundreds of thousands of dollars and the industry across the board billions.
Not only that, but with global temperatures rising, it is essential that the agricultural sector, long heavily reliant on fossil fuels, concentrates on reducing the amount of greenhouse gases they emit.
At the top of the list of renewable energy sources for the industry is solar. It is available everywhere, across the world. It is simple, cost-effective, a good return on investment and easy to maintain.
Solar energy systems around the world are proving themselves and have helped to improve agricultural productivity around the world.
There has never been a better time in history for small and large-scale farms to invest in solar energy technologies.
Here are a few advantages that solar energy utilisation can have for the agricultural industry.
Power vehicles
From tractors to bulldozers, farms are utilising the power of solar to power vehicles and save heaps in fuel costs.
Monitor remote fields
Sometimes farms and fields are located in remote areas where installing monitoring devices to collect data regarding conditions including temperature and moisture, is difficult. Running power cables to such areas are very costly if not near impossible. Solar power in these cases provides a much better return on investment as it offers the ability to set up monitoring at a much easier and lower cost.
Reduce the use of herbicides
A number of solar-powered, weed destroying robots are making their way onto the market. Some have the capacity to identify protected crops vs weeds through an intricate array of cameras and others, such as the FarmDroid (pictured) by Opico use a GPS to identify where crops have been planted and then simply slice anything growing between the rows of plants.
Power irrigation systems
It’s a “duh” statement to say that irrigation is at the top of the list when it comes to the essentiality of food security. Sourcing the energy needed for adequate irrigation can be really challenging and expensive especially in rural areas where access to the electricity grid and/or diesel fuel is expensive.
Solar-powered irrigation systems have become a viable option for many farmers. The systems are reliable, affordable and provide clean energy.
Crop drying
Using solar to dry crops, often grains, can dry crops faster and more evenly than traditional methods. It also helps minimise waste as easily perishable crops can be a challenge to dry and a large percentage gets spoiled and thrown out.
The quicker drying time using solar power allows for longer storage times. The opportunity to significantly decrease the amount of spoilage will save a farmer heaps of money and increase their income. The farmer will also save on fuel costs if they are using a fuel-powered crop dryer and trade out for a solar-powered dryer.
Any way you cut it, the argument for implementing solar into the agricultural industry is a winner. It is proving and continuing to prove itself as an excellent renewable energy option that is literally a money, security and world saver.
This article was brought to you by enewabl, the solar energy specialists. If you would like to know more about how a solar system can change your life and improve your wallet, world and wellbeing, talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable team today.
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