Does Grass Grow Under Solar Panels

On a humid overcast day in central minnesota a dozen researchers crouch in the grass between rows of photovoltaic pv solar panels.

Does grass grow under solar panels.

The researchers planted wheat potatoes celeriac. Only their bright yellow hard hats are clearly visible above the tall nearly overgrown prarie grasses which are growing exactly as expected. The institute elevated 720 solar panels high enough for farm machinery to harvest plants underneath and nearby according to a 2017 press release. Even the sheep tried at one small site behaved unreliably.

Mowers with traditional blades can damage equipment. There are several weed control methods used for pv ground mount systems in japan. The bare ground beneath solar panels near boulder has been planted with grasses and mulched in a test to soften the appearance restore native habitat and protect soil from erosion. Putting solar panels on land that is currently growing food and putting it into solar panels that are only growing electricity is not a good thing to do.

The researchers planted wheat potatoes celeriac and clover grass in the open and under the panels and compared the yields. Hand held weed whackers are a labor intensive solution. That led to twice as much grass under the arrays as in the unshaded areas. Higgins and co author elnaz hassanpour adeh had previously published research showing that solar panels increase agricultural production on dry unirrigated farmland.

The institute elevated 720 solar panels high enough for farm machinery to harvest plants underneath and nearby according to a 2017 press release. We could do both farmers also have. They found that areas under the solar panels had a different microclimate than exposed areas. Nationwide residential solar installations are booming up by 50 per year since 2012 according to the solar energy industries assn.

Solar power plants provide many benefits but at least one perpetual challenge. Shaded areas were 328 percent more water efficient and maintained higher soil moisture throughout the heat of summer. Beneath solar panels the seeds of opportunity sprout. Low impact development of solar installations could be win win win for food water and renewable energy.

Solar shading decreased production 5 3 percent to 19 percent. How do you keep grass under the panels from growing too high. System owners recognize that growing vegetation under and around pv systems must be minimized to protect their valuable investment. Mowing spraying herbicide grazing sheep goats and covering the area with weed control sheets for example.