Solar and Agriculture Potentials Presented to Regional Residents

Agrivoltaics has “really interesting potential,” a Nebraska Extension educator informed Auburn area residents Thursday night, Feb. 5.
John Hay, Extension energy educator, introduced those attending to the topic at a Conservation Nebraska presentation at the Auburn Senior Center. He is in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
“Farming in this environment is difficult. You’re being paid to manage vegetation. Think about vegetation management with solar array as the primary goal. There are opportunities for business. Some will be built over time,” Hay continued.
Ten proposed solar projects in Nebraska include some in Southeast Nebraska, he stated.
Definitions
Agrivoltaics combines agriculture and photovoltaics. Hay defined it as a generic term for all types of agriculture which may take pace under photovoltaics.
Components can entail solar greenhouses, commodity crops, large livestock grazing, pollinator habitat, and grazing and specialty crops.
Ecological practices and photovoltaics combine into ecovoltaics. It entails native prairie plants including grasses, forbs and wildflowers which may combine with grazing or beekeeping and ecological services. Forbs are non-grass, herbaceous flowering plants including wildflowers, clover, sunflowers and milkweed. They are important for wildlife, pollinators and livestock forage. Forbs provide nutrients and habitat.
Solar grazing is grazing under solar panels, using grazing as means of vegetation management usually with sheep.
Solar honey combines honeybees and solar photovoltaics. It utilizes forbs and wildflowers providing for honey production.
Key Features of Agrivoltaics Projects
Production of marketable agricultural products throughout the full life of the solar array.
Intentional design of the solar array, done in consultation with farmers or other experts. It ensures that the systems are constructed, installed and operated so that land within the array is suitable for agricultural production. It includes flexibility for the farmer to change what they produce in response to market demand throughout the life of the project, 30 to 40 years or more.
Crop Yield Under Solar
Studies have shown forage crops and soybeans perform similar to control, not under solar.
Forage yield was 9 to 33 percent lower, yet higher in quality under solar panels. Sheep rate of gain was similar to control, studies have noted.
Profit per acre with solar is higher than with regular crops.
Challenges include maximizing energy production, optimizing agriculture and photovoltaics.
Separate articles cover presentations from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bee Lab staff.