Sustainable farming
Principles
We integrate sustainable farming with energy production to benefit both farmers and their farming practices.
We work closely with agricultural landowners, understanding their language and empathising with their challenges.
We avoid using high-quality agricultural land. Instead, we use low or medium-quality agricultural land, focussing on land that is dedicated to producing animal fodder (corn or grass).
Agri-Solar provides additional income from the land, improves soil quality, and supports sustainable farming practices.
At least two-thirds of the food production volume must be maintained compared to a similar plot of land that contains no solar panels.
Solutions
Some types of farming lend themselves better to being combined with a solar panel site than others. With Solutions in Agri Solar, we are opting for solutions that gives the farmer the space he or she needs to change, develop and improve. We also look at what is feasible.
1. Cows and sun
Our solar panels are placed on elevated tables that are at least 2.10 metres high. Cows can walk underneath the panels and graze on the grass between and beneath them. The cables are concealed to prevent the cows from reaching them. The substructure is robustly designed so that the cows can bump into it without damaging the structure. The panels give the cows shelter from the weather too.
2. Sheep and sun
Solar panels are installed on elevated platforms that are each at least 80 cm high. Sheep can move freely within the solar field, grazing on the land. The cables are concealed and any sharp edges have been removed. The panels provide shelter to the sheep from both rain and excessive sun exposure.
3. Poultry and sun
Chickens and other poultry want to be able to conceal themselves. Well, they can do so under our panels, which are low tables, the lowest of which is just 80 cm high. Under and in between the panels they can roam free, eating the herb-rich grassland and insects. The cables are naturally concealed. Poultry feel safe under the panels, protected from predators.
4. Hayfields and sun
The primary aim for this type of agricultural land is to grow and harvest the herb-rich grassland for feeding the farmer’s animals. Solar panels are installed on the land using either fixed tables or single-axis trackers. The latter system ensures that the panels track the sun, thereby optimizing their power yield. Additionally, the panels can be temporarily positioned upright so that tractors can still work as normal.
