It may sound strange, but livestock and solar energy have a lot in common. Specifically, because the two are joining together to give communities more options when it comes to generating power and other natural resources.

Solar panels work well on their own. However, some arrays must be installed on the ground. There may not be a structure available with a roof that can accommodate the panels at the correct position and angle. Or it could be due to the sheer size of the array. In either situation, the panels are built onto sturdy frames that are planted in the earth.

 That also means that the solar array will take up space that could be used for other purposes – like farming. More solar panels mean more energy for everyone, but at the price of land.

That’s why some energy experts and farmers are getting creative with where they build. Connect Electric wants to explore the possibilities to discover more ways that we can use solar to support communities.

Raising Livestock and Generating Energy

Charles Gould is an energy educator at Michigan State University Extension. He believes that solar panels can work in harmony with other traditional land uses.

“One of the things that we are really trying to encourage is raising livestock – especially sheep – underneath those solar arrays.”

He believes that doing so has benefits for solar developers and the animals. While the panels are busy collecting sunlight to convert to electricity, the sheep can cool off in the shade the array creates. This is great on hot days when they want to escape the heat.

Meanwhile, the sheep’s grazing will help keep vegetation down, which can eliminate the need to mow regularly. That’s less work for the landowner and means that they won’t need to use the fuel required to operate a mower.

In upstate New York, the community egg cooperative Geneva Peeps raises chickens under solar panels. A University of Massachusetts pilot program found that cows thrive under solar panels that are elevated to give them room to move. Researchers in Oregon discovered that arrays increased grasses for sheep and cows by 90%.

This experiment is underway in America, but it could encourage people in other parts of the world to adopt a similar approach to solar development.

Pollinator Gardens and Solar Arrays

Pollinator gardens are another way to get additional use out of the land that supports solar arrays.

“There’s actually a wide variety of plans that we can put in that will support pollinating insects that are low-growing, deep-rooted, hold the soil in place, [and] are nice to look at.” Gould explained.

These solar pollinator gardens could be built near berry fields or orchards to help attract the pollinators that help crops thrive.

More projects will likely appear as the world continues to evolve the way we use solar panels. These experiments prove that we don’t have to choose between generating renewable energy and growing food. We can do both on the same stretch of land, at the same time.

Electric cars have been around for a while now. They are often a topic of discussion among people who want to find ways to cut CO2 emissions and live greener. The technology has improved, bringing us even more ways to phase out fossil fuels.

Bigger vehicles like Tesla’s all-electric Class 8 semi truck are impressive and add to the versatility of renewable energy. But there’s another advancement that Connect Electric feels should be on everyone’s radar.

The Biggest Electric Commerical Aircraft Takes Off

A Washington State airfield nestled between stretches of farmland made renewable history as the departure point for the biggest electrical commercial aeroplane thus far. The craft took off and flew for 30 minutes on 28 May 2020.

Its journey took it over Grant County International Airport where a crowd of observers cheered.

The aircraft in question was a modified Cessna Caravan 208B. It can carry up to 9 passengers. It only had one seat installed for the pilot at the time of the flight.

A small group of 9 sounds like nothing compared to the 200 to 300-seat aeroplanes that deliver passengers for holidays and work trips. Or the massive double-decker models that fly across entire continents. It may be tiny in comparison, but it was still an important first step.

Despite its small stature, the experimental plane is a noteworthy achievement for AeroTEC and MagniX. The two companies provided the electric motor and were pleased with the results.

MagniX CEO Roei Ganzarski stated that the price of flying the Cessna was a mere $6 USD (approximately $8.75 AUD). The same trip using conventional fuel would have cost around $437 to $583 AUD.

Starting Small Yields Big Results

This isn’t the first time that electricity has allowed man to fly. Previous experiments have been successfully completed that used smaller aircraft with electric engines supplied by MagniX. Those smaller endeavours are what pushes research and development toward bigger results.

It’s important to remain realistic about the timeline for full-sized commercial flights that rely on a renewable fuel source. We most likely won’t see a 100% electric-powered large-scale commercial aircraft anytime soon, or even within the next half a century. However, the technology will continue to improve and allow us to make air travel more efficient and affordable.

Energy density is one of the problems researchers face. This term refers to the number of watt-hours you can get per kilogram. Today’s lithium-ion battery has an energy density that could reach up to 250 Wh per kg while jet fuel is closer to 12,000 Wh per kg.

While that sounds like a significant difference, electrical propulsion systems help close the gap with efficient designs. They require less energy to cover more miles compared to traditional systems.

Even with that extra efficiency, fossil fuel models are still 14 times more energy-rich. Batteries can also be awkward to add to an aircraft due to their rigid shape and bulk. Liquid fuel can accommodate different shapes, like fitting inside a wing.

It may take time, but eventually, we will find ways to address these challenges and bring clean, renewable energy to the airline industry.

Solar energy in Australia has experienced a steady upward trend over recent years. While some homeowners jump right to the environmental benefits, others aren’t sure if they are ready to commit to a solar-powered lifestyle. One of the biggest questions that is asked is: how will a solar system affect my property value?

Residential Solar Cost vs. Savings

Solar panels and the labour required to install them come at a cost. You will have to pay an installer just like you would when hiring someone to add a deck or replace a roof. The good news is that the cost of new solar systems had dropped dramatically over the past decades.

A 1 kW system used to cost around $10,000. Now you can buy a 3 kW system for between $3,400 and $5,600. That’s a good size for most average family homes. If you need something bigger, a 5 kW system usually costs between $4,900 and $8,000.

Even on the low end, a project that costs thousands of dollars is a big investment for most people. That’s why it’s important to know your potential savings before you invest in renewable energy.

Your savings will vary based on your electricity consumption and the system’s capacity. The average household in Australia consumes approximately 6,000 kW annually. For a family living in an area like Bondi Junction, where peak usage hours are between 9 am and 5 pm, you could lower your power bill by $730 per year. Your system could pay for itself by the sixth year of use.

You should also learn about financing options and government incentives to help increase value by lowering the cost of installation. Solar savings will have an impact on property value.

Home Buyers and Solar Panels

In most cases, solar panels will increase your home’s property value. Much will depend on the perspective of the buyer.

Origin Energy conducted a survey that found that 85% of Australians think that solar panels add value to real estate. This is especially true in communities that have experienced electricity price increases.

The size of your solar system also plays a role. Usually, the more panels you have, the greater the value increase will be. A 5 kW system could raise your value by as much as $29,000.

When selling a home with solar panels, make sure you do the following to give your property the best chance at a high sale price:

• Make sure you have a listing on sites like Homely.com.au. Verify that information is accurate and that your solar system is mentioned. Your listing should appear when using the site’s Eco Search filters.
• Discuss the benefits with your real estate agent to prepare them to talk with buyers. Make sure they know the benefits of solar before they show your home.
• Prepare a document showing the cost of electricity before and after solar installation to share with buyers. This will show the monthly savings potential that could justify a higher purchase price.
• Clean your panels and make sure they look their best to increase curb appeal.
• Have the specs for your system readily available for buyers, including panel details and capacity.

Solar panels could help you get more money for your home. Learn about sustainable energy to discover more ways to increase your property value.

Switching from the grid to a residential solar system comes with many benefits. You can save thousands of dollars in utility expenses over the life of the system. As long as you chose a reputable solar installer, you should have no problems with your new on-site sustainable power generator.

You and your installer should have engaged in a discussion about your energy needs before work began. They should have gone over what will happen and how much electricity your new solar system can supply. Now that the work is finished, it’s time for you to inspect the job and make sure everything is as it should be.

Checking Solar Equipment on Walls

Check the equipment installed on walls on your home. You will find wall-mounted isolators outside. These should not have electrical conduit coming in from the top. If they do, it could spell disaster when it rains because water can leak inside.

Cables going into the inverter should be well-secured and organised. You should not be able to pull them, and they should not be able to get caught on anything nearby.

Open conduits should be sealed with a gland and not silicone. The inverter or third-party monitoring system should be setup to alert you in case of a problem. This will allow you to act quickly instead of waiting for your next bill to notice that something is wrong.

Inspect the Solar Panels on the Roof

You should not climb on the roof if you are not experienced with doing so. If you live in a single-storey home, then you should be able to view the work from the ground just by looking up.

Make sure your solar panels are lined up and look level with all excess rail trimmed off. If not, call your installer to come out and correct the issue. Cables should also be neatly arranged through the roof cavity.

Panels should not overhang and should be more than 200 mm from the edge of the roof. A good installer won’t position panels past the edge or too close to it because this creates added stress from the wind.

In some situations, the installer can place the panels closer than 200 mm to the edge, but they should be using the right type and number of racking and fixings.

All solar panel clamps should be placed in clamping zones based on the equipment’s make and model. Most have four clamps on the sides that must be 100 mm to 300 mm apart. If they are too far apart or too close to the corners, they could allow flexing in the wind which can crack silicone cells.

Tilt-racking legs should be positioned at right angles to the panels. Rooftop isolators should be shielded from direct sunlight.

Make Sure You Receive Documentation

Your solar installer should give you the documentation related to your system. This is often overlooked, so make sure you request it if nothing is given.

This will include a list of all equipment, warranty details, owner manual, handbook, certificate for the array frame or racking, performance estimate, shut down and isolation instructions, maintenance requirements, site inspection checklist, connection diagram, declaration of compliance, testing checklist, earth fault alarm instructions, and a certificate of electrical safety.

If you have questions about residential solar installation, let us know. Connect Electric is here to help you get the most out of your renewable energy investment.