Solar Racking Systems for Agriculture
How Solar and Agriculture Work Together
By prioritizing dual-use, high capacity, and excellent reliability, ground-based solar mounts add sustainable energy production to farms, ranches, gardens, and other agriculture spaces. They can introduce benefits that improve grazing and growing conditions and make profits more consistent for large and small agriculture stakeholders.
Land Productivity and Consistency – Solar mounts keep land productive, year-round, regardless of the growing season or agriculture market conditions. Through the right system, solar capabilities won’t interfere with growing, grazing, soil quality, and land usability.
Benefits for Crops and Animals – Solar mounts introduce shade and cover, which offsets harsh environmental conditions and preserves soil moisture and health while improving quality of life for animals.
Better Energy Output – Animals and plants contribute to better energy output and easier maintenance. Crops reduce module temperatures, which increases efficiency. Grazing animals reduce mowing requirements and keep grasses far below the lowest portion of the solar array.
Benefits of MT Solar Mounts in Agrivoltaics:
Ground Clearance
The higher your mounts are off the ground, the easier it is to work under and around the arrays. Front edge ground clearance provides access for farming equipment or to keep your arrays out of reach of grazing animals. The design of MT Solar mounts allows for more ground clearance than most mounting solutions on the market.
Tilt Adjust 0-90º
With a quick adjustment to full vertical, you can open up rows to allow equipment in for tilling or seeding. Tilt adjust also allows for seasonal adjustments to optimize array output.
Steel Poles
The strength of a steel pole support structure makes it possible to co-locate your solar arrays with larger animals such as cattle. It is also a good investment if your farming equipment gets a little off-course.
Comparing PV Module transparency with food crops at Colorado State University. Photo: Sandbox Solar
Adaptable Solar Racking for All Types of Agriculture
MT Solar mounts can be fit to all types of land requirements, crops and livestock, and farming functions, including:
- Vegetable and Grain Farms
- Dairy, Poultry, Meat, and Fiber Farms
- Feedlots, Ranches, Rangeland, and Meadows
- Vineyards
- Orchards and Fruit and Nut Farms
- Flower and Seed Farms
- Sod and Turf Farms
- Animal Husbandry Projects
- Honey Producers and Apiculture
- Organic, Natural Pasture, and No-Till Farms
- Cooperative Farms and Allotments
Studies across the country are underway to examine the best uses and combinations of PV solar and agriculture.
Colorado State University and Sandbox Solar collaborated to determine the effects of PV module transparency with food crops. Read the story here.
Renewable energy system for a farm study in the nation’s capital
In the Washington DC area, a study garden combines many functions into a small plot:
- Renewable PV power generation
- Food production
- Rainwater collection from the arrays
- Solar-powered irrigation.
An agrivoltaics study in Washington DC uses MT Solar mounts to shade food crops and captures rain water. Photo: Metropolitan Solar
Full-Size Farm Implements and Solar
Researchers at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment at University of Illinois demonstrate how full-size farm equipment can work between large MT Solar arrays. The study involves growing sorghum and soybeans in the shade of the solar arrays.
Easy Tilt Adjustment Allows Access
Watch this video to see how easy it is to change the tilt on MT Solar mounts. Changing the tilt temporarily can provide access for equipment or laborers.
Tell Us About Your Project and Get Started
