WVU researchers lately obtained $1.6 million from the US Department of Energy to connect photo voltaic panels to cattle farms to assist create photo voltaic power and sustainable farming.
(WVU Photo/Mick Posey)
University of West Virginia Researchers are shining a lightweight on the advantages of photo voltaic panels on small cattle farms with help of $1.6 million from the US Department of Energy.
Matt Wilsonprofessor of animal sciences on WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and founding father of the Alliance for Regenerative Livestock, mentioned the panels might generate photo voltaic power on pasture lands and set up extra sustainable strategies of elevating cattle.
Wilson, who’s main the analysis, will apply dual-use photo voltaic – also referred to as agrivoltaics – in search of methods to mix photo voltaic panels with agricultural makes use of akin to crop manufacturing, livestock or pollinator habitat. .
As a part of a collaboration with Appalachian Renewable Power, the University will analysis the soil, grasses and cows across the photo voltaic system, whereas ARP will do the design and set up.
The grant comes as a part of a $71 million DOE funding — together with $16 million from the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — to develop a community of home photo voltaic power producers.
Currently, 68% of agricultural producers in West Virginia have some type of off-farm revenue as a result of they can’t make a residing from agriculture alone. Wilson mentioned know-how like photo voltaic may help diversify farm revenue. In addition, the concept of ​​new and inexperienced know-how can entice the youthful technology, because the common age of agricultural producers in West Virginia is about 70.
“Young folks do not wish to go into agriculture as a result of they see it as backbreaking work and low know-how,” Wilson mentioned. “But there are alternatives for a high-tech, multi-revenue stream and complete issues that an individual can do to make a residing in agriculture.”
West Virginia receives loads of rain, which advantages cattle’s wants, however the state’s topography doesn’t lend itself to row-crop agriculture. Livestock, nonetheless, can graze on the slopes and mountains the place renewable power can be generated.
Wilson mentioned the concept just isn’t with out its detractors, nonetheless.
“One of the most important obstacles that renewable power is beginning to face is that everyone desires all their power from a renewable supply, however they do not wish to see windmills. They do not wish to see these photo voltaic panels. They do not actually wish to put up panels that transfer to agriculture,” he mentioned.
Despite these widespread objections, photo voltaic builders desire agricultural lands as a result of there’s much less want for remediation of environmental issues.
“From a price perspective, if I have been a photo voltaic developer, I’d wish to choose a spot the place I haven’t got to fret about legacy chemical compounds,” Wilson mentioned. “We try to proceed agrivoltaics. If we will design the supply system in order that they’re in a top quality pasture the place you each elevate a calf yield and power on the identical acreage, as a substitute of adjusting the targets, you’ve gotten now double goal.
Wilson’s main analysis focuses on enhancing the sustainability of the meat business by breeding stronger animals that devour fewer sources. In the previous twenty years, he has developed a system to measure feed consumption, water consumption and beef herd efficiency, and can use it to review animals as they graze beneath photo voltaic arrays.
He suggests the set up of conventional flat panels in addition to bifacial photo voltaic photovoltaic cells which might be linked by netting. The latter can forestall water runoff that may have an effect on soil hydrology.
“That’s our massive objective with this undertaking,” he mentioned. “Install some photo voltaic after which research how the animals behave in that state of affairs, beneath the panels. Then we will begin making suggestions for producers if they’re .
Ember Morrisseyaffiliate professor at environmental microbiologystudied the doable results of dual-solar use on soil well being and was a part of the undertaking.
“My workforce will accumulate and analyze soil samples from pastures utilizing novel agrivoltaics panels in addition to conventional pastures,” he mentioned. “This will permit us to find out if incorporating photo voltaic panels into grassland ecosystems can change soil well being.”
Establishing coverage up entrance can be key. Electricity producers usually are not charged for technology. Wilson envisions an agricultural exemption that may permit farmers to obtain funds for photo voltaic. Questions stay, nonetheless, as a result of the arrays generate extra energy than a farm wants.
“I’ve began speaking to school in engineering and different areas about what we will do,” he mentioned. “Can we convert a few of that in electrolysis to make hydrogen or different issues?”
-WVU-
lj/6/11/24
MEDIA CONTACT: Laura Jackson
Research Writer
WVU Research Communications
304-293-5507; [email protected]
Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the most recent West Virginia University information and data from WVUToday.
