MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — The way forward for photo voltaic panels is altering as West Virginia researchers spotlight the advantages of photo voltaic panels on small cattle farms with $1.6 million in help from the US Department of Energy (DOE ).
Researchers will apply dual-use photo voltaic, also referred to as “agrivoltaics,” on the lookout for a method to mix photo voltaic panels with agricultural makes use of comparable to crop manufacturing, livestock, or pollinator habits. Appalachian Renewable Power will design and set up the photo voltaic techniques whereas the college researches the soil, grasses and cattle round them.
According to WVU Today, 68% of agricultural producers in West Virginia have some type of off-farm revenue as a result of they can not make a dwelling from agriculture alone.
“I feel the largest profit is that it permits producers to diversify potential revenue streams to the farm—persevering with to make use of pasture land to graze animals and enhance one other potential income. stream on high of that,” Matt Wilson, WVU Professor of Animal Sciences, stated.
The DOE’s $71 million funding, together with $16 million from the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will broaden the community of home photo voltaic producers.
Research will start in January and February subsequent 12 months with the set up of photo voltaic panels, and grazing below the panels will happen from April 2025 to November 2025. WVU may have its first 12 months of information in late 2025. .
