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This is a specific application of a broader design pattern found in the permaculture world: planting combinations of plants at different canopy layers, ecologic
by hosh 3y ago
This is a specific application of a broader design pattern found in the permaculture world: planting combinations of plants at different canopy layers, ecological functions, and yields. The solar panels would be taking the place of an understory or shrub canopy layer, while there are herbaceous, ground cover, and root zone layers you can work with.
While solar panels have an yield useful for humans, it would be even better if it can participate in the ecological system. Planting instead say, a palo verde would yield edible beans, with the tree itself acting as a nitrogen fixer. A sea buckthorne tree also acts as a nitrogen fixer, with roots propogating (more sea buckthrone trees pops up on its own) and yields high vitamin-c berries.
What ecological function can a solar panel contribute to?
- Rhapso 3y agoHow do solar panels interact with condensation?
- hosh 3y agoI don’t know. But that gets into the broader design pattern of engineering a microclimate, whether that is changing local humidity and temperature levels. Perhaps, the structure itself can also provide some other functions. The pylons, for example, can double as a way for deep root watering.
- mrDmrTmrJ 3y agoProviding shade and lowering peak temperatures - allowing sensitive plants to survive in a broader range of climate & light conditions.
- hosh 3y agoThat’s a result of occupying a certain canopy layer. Any other plant that occupies that canopy layer can do the same.
- agumonkey 3y agoBut 1) they don't generate electricity 2) they might require care to avoid spreading or attracting bugs (i'm speculating) The idea to benefit from an energy source at the ecological layer is the main idea IMO.
- hosh 3y agoGenerating electricity is a yield to humans. Other plants have other yields. In an ecosystem, something spreading and growing is a feature, not a bug. It means that, as a living system, it self-heals and regenerates. This is better than just being sustainable. A solar panel neither self-heals or regenerate. It in fact, degenerates —- the cells wear out over time, yielding less electricity year over year, and will require replacement at some point. Without human intervention, it will eventually stop functioning. My question still remains unanswered: what does a solar panel contribute to the ecosystem itself, that is not a result occupying a canopy layer or a yield for humans?
- agumonkey 3y agoYour viewpoint, as good as it is, is not appropriate here imo. It's a human need being discussed, not an ecosystem one. If you breed the best ecosystem the people will not get tangible benefits, maybe some increase in soil quality, plants resistance, nutrients but is it enough to improve their production and finances ? At least that's how I see it with my limited information.
- Schroedingersat 3y agoThe shade can be controlled with tracking panels. Full shade at noon when photosynthesis stops due to heat to preserve water, less at other times. The PV can also perform a nitrogen fixing role via electrolysis and ammonia production. On a broader scale it can lead to the land being habitable at all by driving a coal or gas generator out of business. Not better, but more likely to be deployed.
- hosh 3y agoIn order for the panels to function as a nitrogen fixer, you’d not only have to add that functionality to the panel, you also reduce the yield in order to power it. Are people willing to do that? Are there better ways to contribute? When designing plant guilds in this way, these are the common ecological functions plants contribute to: - nitrogen fixer - deep-tap root dynamic accumulator (roots bring up nutrients below most other plant’s root zones and makes it bioavailable at the surface) - pollinator attractor (usually flowers) - aromatic confusers (part of integrated pest management strategies) - sentinels (helps control plants that spread, or protect fragile plants from animals) - animal and insect habitats Then there are keystone species that have so many contributions, the local ecology would fall apart without it. An example is a baynan, from the fig family. These are actually a parasite that takes over a host tree with invasive roots, but they are also keystone species that contributes so much that no one wants to get rid of them. In contrast, I don’t think anyone designs solar panels like this. So it yields something with minimal participation in the ecosystem. Humans want it for the electricity, but it may as well be an invasive species that just extracts resources without really giving anything back.