The agriculture industry is shifting. To combat changing environmental conditions, more farmers are using renewables in their operations. From Iowa to New Jersey and Australia to Bhutan, the worldwide agriculture sector is looking to solar, wind, and geothermal power to improve their lives and production on their farms.
A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2022 census found that 15% more farmers use solar and other renewables than in previous years. Around 153,000 U.S. farmers and ranchers have some kind of renewable energy system compared to 2017.
Government Incentives
Government programs are helping deploy these systems.
USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funds $145 million in grants for expanded renewable energy in rural America. The money comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and can be used for solar, small-scale hydropower, geothermal, biomass, and wind.
In February, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said it would also contribute several millions to wind projects.
The REAP program allows farmers to use the Inflation Reduction Act’s cleantech tax benefits. This initiative runs through 2031, and the government will host six quarterly competitions through fiscal year 2024 to find grantees. The maximum grant size was increased to $500,000 for energy efficiency projects and up to $1 million for renewable energy deployments.
Solar Lighting The Way
One renewable gaining a lot of attention is solar. ABC 9 KCRG, out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, talked with local farmers about their experiences with solar energy.
The farmers spoke highly about it, with one saying how he saved nearly $35,000 in electricity costs.
He went from spending about $40,000 to only $4,500 annually because of solar panels.
Some Iowa State University professors are trying to grow crops under solar panels. They are looking at fruits and vegetables that attract and conserve pollinators like bees, butterflies, and small mammals.
Photo Courtesy American Public Power Association
Sustainability Blowing In The Wind
Wind power distribution is considered one of rural America’s best renewable systems. Various voltage and kilowatt systems can support one small farm or several at once. The DOE is allocating $4 million in additional funding for the testing, certification, and commercialization of wind power distribution. It will require several wind turbines to be set up across multiple farms, but the benefits are worth it.
“DOE is raising the bar with our partners at USDA — creating jobs, lowering costs, and increasing energy independence for farmers and those in rural communities,” Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy, said in a statement.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is also gaining some traction in the country. A New Jersey family fitted their greenhouse with a geothermal energy system to grow flowers in enter. The farm received a REAP grant to install the system.
The vent captures the heat from the greenhouse and a series of pumps traps and stores it. The captured heat is released back into the greenhouse. The family told NJ Advance Media that it only costs $100 a month compared to their $1,000 for a propane-heated greenhouse.
While US-based innovation is leading the charge, America is not alone.
Photo Courtesy Zoe Schaeffer
International Project Finding Solutions
The World Economic Forum (WEF) provided more international examples of renewable energy in farms across the globe. An Australian farmer said his sheep had higher-quality wool after soil moisture improved under his array. Thanks to the panel’s shade, his sheep were able to graze through a drought.
Condensation on the panels kept crops healthy, too. The grower praised the panels for saving him money on electricity and improving his business.
A Bhutanese farmer harnessed the power of biogas to heat his poultry farm. Bhutan’s topography and elevation mean its climate can be anywhere from hot and humid to cool and dry.
The farmer switched to biogas for energy after paying a fortune in electricity costs. He used a mixture of manure from pigs and cows to power an Olympic swimming pool-sized plant. He told Asian News International that he saves hundreds on electricity costs, which cost him around $730 (60,000 Bhutanese Ngultrum) during one of the winter months in 2022.
Rural renewables projects are expanding rapidly as more farmers adopt them. With government programs expanding to increase access, the U.S. is set to face steep competition as more countries understand the benefits of clean energy.