Microgeneration of power for farms using solar panels has recently received a lot of attention. Almost certainly, you've seen a solar installation like this on a farm building or on agricultural property near you. The very real financial gains that can be made by generating and using your own electricity and minimizing your expenses have sparked a surge in interest in solar technology. Solar power is being adopted by farms of all sizes and types, from crops to cattle, communal to industrial scale.
However, there are so many different types of farms within farming that you really need to break it down further. Is this a chicken farm? Is it a cattle ranch or a livestock farm? Is it some kind of agricultural crop farm? Is it a major commercial farm or a small family-run operation?
When you've opted to go solar for your farm's energy needs, the next decision is whether you should go with off-grid or grid-connected solar electricity. The answer is contingent on the panels' intended use and your specific energy requirements.
A solar energy system that is “on-grid” or “grid-connected” is one that is connected to the utility grid. In the last 20 years, this type of system has grown in popularity to the point where it currently accounts for nearly all solar energy capacity on the planet.
When an on-grid Canadian solar system generates more electricity than the location requires, the surplus is put back into the grid. The owner of the solar panels saves money by selling them back. This is when "net metering" enters the picture. However, not every state provides it, and for those that don't, on-grid solar loses one of its primary cost advantages.
Because the solar system is connected to the grid and can draw power from it, no battery storage is required even if the sun does not shine for several days. While storage batteries allow off-grid solar panels to provide steady electricity, they do so at a higher cost.
However, most residential properties require less than 10kW, so on-grid solar power is a viable alternative if you want to save money while also benefiting from the ability to sell power back to the grid.
Off-grid is frequently more expensive due to the necessity for battery storage, as previously indicated. However, this isn't always the case on farms. Here are three scenarios in which off-grid solar could save you money.
Even if the sun isn't shining, you can feed your cattle or water your crops for a few days if you have a large storage tank for the water once it's pumped from the well. As a result, the battery may not be required for a solar water pumping system. All you need is a large enough water tank to tolerate longer periods of low sunshine.
These systems are often solitary and tiny for farms. It can be expensive to run electricity cables to all of the places. Because the power requirements are typically low, it is frequently less expensive to just instal modest solar panels at each place.
Remote solar power has a 60% cheaper cost. The longer you are away from the power grid, the more expensive it will be to establish power lines and voltage boxes to reach your destination. According to a study, a PV solar energy system would cost 60% less than conventional electricity for off-grid water pumping that was one mile from a power source.
It is true, when an on-grid solar panels system generates more electricity than the location requires, the surplus is put back into the grid. Businesses have the liberty to save energy for the future use by integrating energy storage. This is when "net metering" enters the picture. However, not every state provides it, and for those that don't, on-grid solar loses one of its primary cost advantages.
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