SOLAR TODAY - May 2011

| deployment advances
Wind is strongest during
the fall and winter seasons,
when solar heating is at
a minimum. Many farms
therefore run a combina-
tion of solar panels and
wind turbines.

saving energy on the family farm
By Richard Crume

richard Crume is an environmental engineer and teaches a university course on air pollution, climate change and energy efficiency. He is a regular contributor to SOLAR TODA Y.

The family farm is not the first place you would think to look for the latest energy-saving technologies. But solar panels, wind turbines and methane digesters are increasingly common on farms, large and small, across the United States. According to the On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture ( nass.usda.gov), farms employing these renewable technologies are saving an average of $2,400 annually on their utility bills.

The USDA study found that the number of farm-based solar, wind and digester systems has more than doubled since 2005, and further market growth is expected as farmers take advantage of incentives to stabilize their rising energy costs. More than 8,500 farms report using some combination of photovoltaic (PV) panels, thermal solar panels, wind turbines and methane digesters.

Dairy farming, which uses a lot of electricity for

according to the On-Farm renewable energy Production survey by the u.s. department of agriculture, farms employing renewable technologies are saving an average of $2,400 annually on their utility bills.

14 May 2011 SOLAR TODA Y solartoday.org

Top;Five;States;for;Farms;Having;Renewable;Energy;Systems
PV;and;Thermal;Methane
Solar;Panels;Digesters

1. California Wisconsin 2. Texas New York 3. Hawaii California 4. Colorado Pennsylvania 5. Oregon Vermont

Wind;Turbines California Texas Minnesota Colorado Arizona, Montana (tied)

Source: On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey by the U. S. Department of Agriculture

refrigerating milk, building ventilation and lighting, milking machines and hot water for equipment cleaning, turns out to be the biggest beneficiary of renewable power sources. But solar panels and wind turbines power a wide variety of farm equipment, ranging from electric fencing and lighting, to water pumping for livestock watering and irrigation. Renewable sources are particularly helpful in remote locations where power lines are not accessible.

Solar and wind resources are often complementary. During the summer months when solar intensity is strong, winds are often light. Wind is strongest during the fall and winter seasons, when solar heating is at a minimum. Many farms therefore run a combination of solar panels and wind turbines.