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Anything that involves constructing precarious fragile structures over large areas of land is not a practical solution. Imagine wanting to harvest your crops a

Anything that involves constructing precarious fragile structures over large areas of land is not a practical solution. Imagine wanting to harvest your crops and you can’t use any machinery because of all the structures. Or imagine there is a slight wind and it rips up 200k in solar panels.

photochemsyn 4y ago
You just place the panels far enough apart that agricultural machinery can move up and down the rows (this also ensures plants aren't overly shaded). As far as wind resistance, robust design seems to solve that problem. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/16/baywa-velux-sign-europes-first-agrivoltaics-linked-ppa/ https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/16/baywa-velux-sign-euro... > "According to BayWa, the installation will have rows of panels spaced more widely than usual, to allow passage of agricultural machinery and the cultivation of cereals. In addition, the rainwater that falls on the modules will be collected and used for irrigation."
- nonethewiser 4y ago
  Or simply take the same amount of space and keep the solar panels and crops separate.
  - photochemsyn 4y ago
    Integration has benefits for many crops in many regions. For example, many fruits and vegetables develop better under some shade. See this USDA blurb: > "Commercial farms growing high value fruits and vegetables use shade structures to create protected environments. These growers benefit from bigger yields, better quality produce, fewer pests, timed crop growth, and resource conservation. Unfortunately, shade structure use is limited for many small and medium size farms who lack economy of scale. Commercial shade structures available today are very expensive to purchase and install as well as difficult and time-consuming to move." Solar structures mean the farms generate revenue from the shade systems, although initial cost-of-installation is high.

photochemsyn 4y ago

You just place the panels far enough apart that agricultural machinery can move up and down the rows (this also ensures plants aren't overly shaded). As far as wind resistance, robust design seems to solve that problem. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/16/baywa-velux-sign-europes-first-agrivoltaics-linked-ppa/ https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/16/baywa-velux-sign-euro... > "According to BayWa, the installation will have rows of panels spaced more widely than usual, to allow passage of agricultural machinery and the cultivation of cereals. In addition, the rainwater that falls on the modules will be collected and used for irrigation."

nonethewiser 4y ago
Or simply take the same amount of space and keep the solar panels and crops separate.
- photochemsyn 4y ago
  Integration has benefits for many crops in many regions. For example, many fruits and vegetables develop better under some shade. See this USDA blurb: > "Commercial farms growing high value fruits and vegetables use shade structures to create protected environments. These growers benefit from bigger yields, better quality produce, fewer pests, timed crop growth, and resource conservation. Unfortunately, shade structure use is limited for many small and medium size farms who lack economy of scale. Commercial shade structures available today are very expensive to purchase and install as well as difficult and time-consuming to move." Solar structures mean the farms generate revenue from the shade systems, although initial cost-of-installation is high.