4 ms·

Yes, I think a single picture of a farm setup this way would have increased the value of this article quite a bit.

yazaddaruvala 4y ago
This[0] is a berry farm I was just at. As you can see it’s already covered to protect from extra sun. No tractor could fit anyways. This[1] is one version of agrovoltaics. The solar panels act like window blinds. They can be configured to follow the sun but also can be configured to “provide optimal shade/cooling throughout the day”. [0] https://images.app.goo.gl/mSbtJjtSQRukBQqK6 https://images.app.goo.gl/mSbtJjtSQRukBQqK6 [1] https://images.app.goo.gl/9kakPW8uRHLGp3yJA https://images.app.goo.gl/9kakPW8uRHLGp3yJA
- hutzlibu 4y ago
  "This[0] is a berry farm I was just at. As you can see it’s already covered to protect from extra sun." Erm, I can see a greenhouse. I think they are made to increase temperature for the plants and not to protect from extra sun. Strawberries like sun and would not benefit from shade, unless we are talking about very intense sunlight and not much water. Most plants usually want as much sun as they can get, so long as the temperature stays in their desired range and enough water is avaiable. So in dry places with lots of sun, acrovoltaics can make some sense, or for plants that like indeed shade, like tomatoes. But it is really not a magic bullet for growing corn and harvesting electricity at the same time. Sheeps grazing under solar panels seems like a working solution that does not need too much effort around it.
  - otherme123 4y ago
    A lot of plants doesn't like and cannot survive the sun at central hours unless you water them like crazy. Basically you are watering to avoid dehydration, but not producing, like drinking in the desert. A lot of plants evolved to thrive near/under trees. Greenhouses can tame the sunlight, and usually they are painted in white in regions of too much sun (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6tMOU84tk https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6tMOU84tk). Also, greenhouses are hot but very humid, so the plants doesn't dehydrate as fast. I could imagine an scheme that instead of watering (costs money) you shade the crops with panels (earns money) during the worst of the day.
    - wil421 4y ago
      I live in the hot and humid Deep South and my strawberries do not mind the sun. There’s a local berry patch that has lots of different berries, including strawberries, and no shades in sight. What’s in OPs image is a greenhouse. The sides can be closed if low temperatures are coming in at night.
  - yencabulator 4y ago
    The examples given in the article are mushrooms and broccoli. Obviously the primary and first use cases would be things that want some shade (in the local environment).

This[0] is a berry farm I was just at. As you can see it’s already covered to protect from extra sun. No tractor could fit anyways. This[1] is one version of agrovoltaics. The solar panels act like window blinds. They can be configured to follow the sun but also can be configured to “provide optimal shade/cooling throughout the day”. [0] https://images.app.goo.gl/mSbtJjtSQRukBQqK6 https://images.app.goo.gl/mSbtJjtSQRukBQqK6 [1] https://images.app.goo.gl/9kakPW8uRHLGp3yJA https://images.app.goo.gl/9kakPW8uRHLGp3yJA

hutzlibu 4y ago
"This[0] is a berry farm I was just at. As you can see it’s already covered to protect from extra sun." Erm, I can see a greenhouse. I think they are made to increase temperature for the plants and not to protect from extra sun. Strawberries like sun and would not benefit from shade, unless we are talking about very intense sunlight and not much water. Most plants usually want as much sun as they can get, so long as the temperature stays in their desired range and enough water is avaiable. So in dry places with lots of sun, acrovoltaics can make some sense, or for plants that like indeed shade, like tomatoes. But it is really not a magic bullet for growing corn and harvesting electricity at the same time. Sheeps grazing under solar panels seems like a working solution that does not need too much effort around it.
- otherme123 4y ago
  A lot of plants doesn't like and cannot survive the sun at central hours unless you water them like crazy. Basically you are watering to avoid dehydration, but not producing, like drinking in the desert. A lot of plants evolved to thrive near/under trees. Greenhouses can tame the sunlight, and usually they are painted in white in regions of too much sun (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6tMOU84tk https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6tMOU84tk). Also, greenhouses are hot but very humid, so the plants doesn't dehydrate as fast. I could imagine an scheme that instead of watering (costs money) you shade the crops with panels (earns money) during the worst of the day.
  - wil421 4y ago
    I live in the hot and humid Deep South and my strawberries do not mind the sun. There’s a local berry patch that has lots of different berries, including strawberries, and no shades in sight. What’s in OPs image is a greenhouse. The sides can be closed if low temperatures are coming in at night.
- yencabulator 4y ago
  The examples given in the article are mushrooms and broccoli. Obviously the primary and first use cases would be things that want some shade (in the local environment).