Breakthrough in Solar Farm Technology
Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark have discovered a "win-win" situation by installing next-gen technology on farmland.
The innovation features vertically installed solar panels in open crop fields, allowing for the growth of crops and generation of energy simultaneously.
"It's a win-win,"
said study lead author Marta Victoria. The team tested their hypothesis by setting up two systems: one with vertically installed, east-west facing solar panels and another with traditionally installed, south-facing tilted panels.
- Both setups were used in fields growing wheat and grass-clover mixtures.
- The results showed few performance issues, with the crops seemingly unaffected by the solar panels.
The study was published in the journal Energy Nexus, highlighting the potential for solar farms and agricultural farms to coexist.
Author's summary: Researchers find a way to combine solar farms and agriculture.