1092
Obvious choice (slrpnk.net)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/solarpunk@slrpnk.net
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[–] 32 points 3 months ago (2 children)

many also put them on pasture land, the grass grows just fine under it, and the animals get some shade to hang out in

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  • [–] 17 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Only problem is many pasture animals are not compatible with agrovoltaics. Cows tends to rub on the supports and may chew any exposed wires, goats will find their way on top of the panels no matter what you do, pigs will chew on any exposed wire or insulation, and sheep, well they're actually okay for agrovoltaics.

    There's the alternate approach of basically using solar panels as fences which might work better for some pastures. Ultimately agrovoltaics is one of those combinations of factors that is going to take time and experimentation to perfect

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  • [–] 9 points 3 months ago

    Any time I've seen PV panels in a pasture field, they're all set up a little differently depending on the field, animals, etc.

    The ones with cattle look closer to the ones in the parking lot in the post photo, they're way up on a post, all the wiring is either kept up high or are in a metal conduit. I don't think I've ever seen them with goats though. Goats are assholes.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    Large herbivores like cows are going to be capable of damaging traditional solar installations. But this would be great for goats and sheep and stuff.

    Chickens would be fine, but you'd have to clip their wings (not surgically) so they can't fly up on them.

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  • [–] 9 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Cattle pastures usually just mount the panels higher up, and put safety cages around service panels and electrical conduit.

    The most I've seen with chickens is just a couple panels on the roof of the coop, or barn for industrial sized chicken processing. (I'm not going to call it farming, it's basically a factory)

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  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago*

    I have always been puzzled about why raising chicks is farming instead of ranching.

    But I was meaning damage to the supports if the livestock was allowed close enough to benefit from the shade. Although the risk with chickens is getting the panels dirty or damaging them.

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