Uses of Solar Energy in Agriculture
In its blossoming stages, solar energy was primarily used to supply electric energy to homes and offices that were far from a power grid. Over time, solar energy has found its way into other sectors and applications. As a renewable energy source, there is no fear of its depletion, unlike fossil-fuelled energy such as coal, gas, and petroleum.
Transitioning from non-renewable sources of energy to renewable ones has opened the door to a myriad of possibilities. It has also increased the demand for solar panel installations making the cost less prohibitive.
Solar energy has made significant inroads into daily living, agriculture, and transportation. While solar energy has focused on supplying electricity for space heating and lighting, it has expanded to include solar drying, solar cooling and refrigeration, and cooking.
Rural areas depend on agriculture and need to access renewable sources of energy to make a sustainable living. Agricultural processing such as irrigation, poultry lighting, and pest control do not require high energy output and solar photovoltaic cells are a proven choice as an energy source.
Since farming and agriculture consume a large amount of electricity for irrigation, ploughing, greenhouses, heating and cooling of buildings that house livestock, and dairy operations, utility bills can drain the budget. But, with solar power, while the upfront cost may be high, farmers will benefit in the long term.
Some of the areas in which the agricultural industry can benefit include solar drying, pumping water, and refrigeration for food preservation.
