| By :
Aaron Dicks
Copyright (c) 2010 Aaron Dicks The options for investment in solar PV are much wider for many farmers than for the majority of domestic property owners. As many farms have large areas of roof space, be it on the farm house or outbuildings or barns, the 4kw peak array, approximately 30 square metres, to receive the maximum Feed in Tariff return are easily achievable. A further benefit to the farmer is the opportunity to invest in larger commercial systems or solar farms, which could again be roof mounted or ground mounted. A major benefit of ground mounted systems is that they are supported by purpose built structures which can be designed to maximise the output of the system, that being south facing, at 30 degrees and in a completely shade free location. There are a few draw- backs with regard to solar farms; the requirement for planning permission is the initial and possibly the most difficult one. The cost and chance of rejection from the planners and the possibility of opposition from local residents, particularly as they are often in rural locations, can be a problem before systems can be constructed. As systems are at ground level, the issue of security also becomes apparent, and the growing trend of solar panel theft must be addressed. The size of the commercial system is only limited by cost and available ground area up to a maximum of 5MW output. The feed in tariff is set at a slightly lower level than that of the domestic application, but the economy of scale in the larger number of panels gives an economical viability and a profitable return over the 25 year guaranteed payment period. Solar roofs are a further option available to the farming community. This is where either the existing roofing is removed and replaced with a solar panel system or the whole or part of the roof can be covered with solar panels during the construction of the building. The panels are sat within an aluminium framed structure with an integral guttering system which will direct rain water into a typical guttering and drainage system the same way as a traditional roof would do. In these days of high awareness regarding organic and sustainable farming methods, green energy such as solar is high on the agenda for forward thinking and ethical farmers. Consumers not only desire but expect the highest levels of animal welfare and humane production methods, all of which can be bolstered by the implementation of renewable energy systems.
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