Common Queries Farmers Have In Mind About Solar Panel Installation

May 19, 2022

Common Queries Farmers Have In Mind About Solar Panel Installation

Solar energy is becoming a viable option for many agricultural businesses and farms. Opting for this energy-efficient solution has made daily operations of farming and agricultural land quite easy.

Owning a farm or agricultural land means having a plethora of inevitable expenses to keep things running. As a result, your farm or agricultural land is dependent on electricity to make sure everything works perfectly and continuously. This dependency on electricity can lead to great expenses. You can reduce such expenses after installing solar panels .

Many farmers are familiar with the concept of solar panel installation for agricultural land , but they don’t know where to start. They don’t know how a solar panel can affect their farms’ operation of crops or animals and what the long-term or short-term implications of installing solar are.

Therefore, installing solar panels on your farm or agricultural land might be quite confusing, especially if this is your first time. This blog post helps to answer some of the most common questions regarding installing a solar panel system on a form of agricultural land.

Do Solar Modules Heat Up Or Dry Out Vegetation?

This is one of the most common misconceptions among farmers. They believe that the solar modules will heat up or dry out their vegetation or their crops, which is not true. Solar modules actually cool crops and vegetation underneath due to their shading and keep them warmer at night.

Moreover, they also give farmers the ability to grow shade-tolerant crops and help and diversify crop selection. Therefore, solar modules do not leave any negative impact on the vegetation or crops.

How Much Area Do Solar Panels Take?

There is no exact answer to this question as it depends on the number of acres, type of system, size of the system, and your usage. Depending on your usage, you might have to opt for roof-mounted solar panels or ground-mounted solar panels. Ground-mounted solar panels require land, but it depends on your usage and other factors for how large a system you will need.

Roof-mounted solar panels are installed on one of the buildings on your farm or around your farm, and they won’t take up any space on your land. However, the solar panels will be installed in the limited area of your roof, and also, the shading from nearby trees can affect their energy production.

Therefore, depending on your needs and the amount of land available, you will have to install your solar systems accordingly. A solar panel installation company can help you and suggest to you how much farmland your solar panels should take up.

Do Solar Panels Affect The Soil?

Solar panels don’t affect your soil. Most solar panels are made from silicon, which is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust. So, therefore, there is no way that this natural element can affect the growth of the plants and contaminate your land.

Do Solar Panels Require Maintenance?

Solar panels do not require any type of special maintenance on your part. Once installed, you can use them for your agriculture or farm for years. Moreover, if you encounter any issue with your solar panel system, you can always contact your installer or a trusted solar panel maintenance company to check it for you.

Is It Safe To Spray Pesticides Near Solar Panels?

Pesticides and herbicides are sprayed on the crops to prevent weed growth and save plants from insects. Solar panels have been designed to withstand outdoor conditions and are not affected by such sprays. Therefore, you can spray your crops without any worry.

Conclusion

Installing solar panels on your farm or agricultural land can be one of the best decisions you make. However, hiring a professional solar power contractor who knows every detail of solar panels is necessary to smoothen this process.

About Sundawg Solar

Sundawg Solar is one of the most reliable solar installers in Saskatoon and throughout Saskatchewan. Whether it is your residence, commercial property, or farm, we can help you install efficient solar panels on your site. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you save money on your energy bill and harness the power of solar energy for the future.