Solar energy is the next big thing and there is no denying this. Business and home owners alike across the globe are looking to convert to solar energy and this only hints to the bright future that this form of energy has in store. A majority of India’s agriculture is restricted to the rural areas and this is also where power cuts are a frequent occurrence. Investing in solar farms is not only economical for farmers but also a way for them to earn money in the long run.
Did you know that the largest solar farm in the world, as of March 2022, is located in the desert region of Rajasthan – Bhadla Solar Park. The farm covers an enormous area of 14,000 acres and has an energy generating capacity of 2,245 MW, or 2.2 GW.
The advantages of installing a solar farm outweigh its minor disadvantages and both on an environmental and economical level is a sound decision to make.
What is Solar Farming?
Simply put, solar farms also known as solar parks or solar power stations are large scale solar installations where the photovoltaic (PV) panels, referred to as solar panels, are used to capture and harvest the sun’s power. They’re different in comparison to rooftop solar systems and even a commercial setup. Their operation is similar to that of a natural gas power plant that helps generate electricity on a large scale and usually fits like a ground-mounted solar setup.
There largely are two different kinds of solar farms – community solar farms and utility-scale solar farms. Most solar farms are located in areas free from shading of trees, are decentralized and provide electricity to an electric grid.
There are two major differences between a community solar farm and a utility-scale solar farm. The first difference has to do with output. A community solar farm is much smaller in size and has a capacity of under 5MW. These also provide electricity to subscribers or members who have paid for a share. Utility-scale solar farms on the other hand are much larger and can generate anywhere between 1 MW to 2,000 MW. They serve the utility company and all of its customers, carrying the power to an electric grid from where it gets further distributed.
Key benefits
Just like Solar energy itself, the benefits of solar farms are abundant. From providing a better habitat for wildlife, to being economical, reducing carbon footprint and even allowing for nutrient and land recharge of degraded lands, solar farms are a great investment on all fronts.
Here we list out three key benefits of solar farms, while reminding you that the list is a lot longer than that.
1. Great return on investment
While initially a solar farm might feel like a big investment and it is, the long term benefits of it are umpteen. As inflation grips the world, the prices of coal are overshooting, they directly impact the electricity bill you get. Installing solar means ridding yourself of this monthly bill, reducing your expenses by a great deal. Add to this the schemes like the Prime Minister’s Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) and other government initiatives that drive down your investment further, saving you added money.
In addition to this, not everyone has the capability or the resources to build their own solar farm and so those who can, are able to sell their excess electricity, which acts as an added income source. This electricity will be much cheaper than the one generated through fossil fuels, attracting more people to it. It is a win-win situation not only for those who own the solar farm but also for the one buying the electricity from them. There is also a diversification of revenue streams for those who invested in the solar farm to begin with
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The solar plants or farms are also low on maintenance further reducing fixed costs of those who have invested in it. It is also supportive of the local economy by making the surrounding areas a cleaner place to live and also increasing employability locally.
2. Logistic feasibility
Nothing within a solar farm setup is moving and the inverters too are placed within sound-proof boxes, completely eliminating the issue of noise pollution – providing added tranquility to those living around the solar farms. Considering that they are not disruptive to the local environment they can be built close to load centers and this not only aids in reducing the transmission difficulty but also improves their efficiency by reducing line losses.
The PV modules that form the solar farm set up, also allow for nutrient and land recharge of degraded lands, making it possible for land-owners to begin farming again, if they so wish. They also produce natural shade to crops that need it and add to this their ability to increase the duration of the growing season.
They are also known to provide shade to the crops keeping them cool during the day and warm at night. Farmers are now able to diversify the crops they grow too, owing to these controlled temperatures.
3. Most sustainable form of energy generation
The sun’s energy is one of the most easily available natural sources of energy that cause no damage to the environment in any way. Solar energy harvested either via rooftop, ground mounted or solar farm setups is the best way to reduce carbon emissions all of which contribute to global warming. Unlike a fossil fuel power plant a solar farm releases no pollutants into the environment making it a clean source of energy generation. Their pre-existing carbon footprint accumulated when they were manufactured is the only carbon footprint they have. This is a small amount when compared to the other energy generators and their contribution to carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere.
They are also known to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and water for energy generation, further reducing carbon footprint and saving a natural resource like water, the scarcity of which is soon becoming a cause for concern in several parts of India.
A brighter future
Not only are solar farms socially, economically and environmentally beneficial but they are also an easy fix to issues like global warming, degraded land, unemployability and increasing electricity costs to name a few. Rural India has quite a bit of space and constructing solar farms in these areas will prove beneficial locally as well as in reducing the carbon footprint nationally.
Attention however, needs to be paid to not turn this environmentally sound solution into one that destroys the environment but cutting down trees and indulging in deforestation and destroying natural animal habitats to build these farms. A proper recee of existing barren lands and alternate solutions to find space should be a priority of the state governments across the country.
The other thing that needs attention and maybe only second to the one mentioned above is that of solar waste. While modules are said to have a life of 25 years, what is to happen to the waste generated in the form of the modules themselves, once this duration is reached. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), we are going to face a large amount of solar waste of decommissioned PV panels by the early 2030s. The world at large might have to handle millions of tons of ‘solar waste’ by the end of 2050. Hopefully we can find a way out of this.