Solar sharing
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Solar sharing is a way to finance a new solar power plant by pooling the investment resources of multiple people together. The target is to develop new solar energy, while at the same time, share the economic benefits that the energy produces among those who contributed to the projects.[1]
How solar sharing works
[edit]Solar sharing, also known as community solar or solar cooperative, is a collaborative investment model where multiple individuals or entities pool their financial resources to fund the construction of a large-scale solar farm. This approach is particularly popular in agrivoltaic systems, where solar panels are installed alongside agricultural activities. By sharing the cost and benefits, participants can access solar energy production without the need for individual rooftop installations.
In this model, each participant contributes to the funding of the solar project. Once the solar plant becomes operational, the energy generated is sold, often to the grid, and the revenue is distributed among the investors. The division of profits is typically proportional to the amount each participant initially invested.
Additionally, participants in a solar sharing scheme can benefit from professional management and maintenance of the solar farm, which may not be feasible for individual home installations.
Solar sharing also allows individuals who may not have the resources or appropriate space (such as renters or homeowners with shaded roofs) to participate in solar energy production. This model has been implemented in various regions as a way to promote renewable energy adoption, increase energy access, and reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation.
Examples of solar sharing
[edit]Several companies around the world are contributing to the realization of solar sharing and producing clean energy for the planet. Some models involve installing solar panels at the ground level, in large open spaces. Other companies install the panels on rooftops.
Many solar cooperatives and associations offer either local financing or a few individual plants. These examples operate in Italy, Japan,[2] and the United States.[3]
Solar sharing for both food and clean energy production
[edit]The purpose of this research was to examine the performance of agrivoltaic systems, which produce crops and electricity simultaneously, by installing stilt-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels on farmland. As PV power stations enjoy remarkable growth, land occupation to establish solar farms will intensify the competition for land resources between food and clean energy production. The results of this research showed, however, that the stilt-mounted agrivoltaics system can mitigate the trade-off between crop production and clean energy generation even when applied to corn, a typical shade-intolerant crop. The research was conducted at a 100-m2 experimental farm with three sub-configurations: no modules (control), low module density, and high module density. In each configuration, 9 stalks/m2 were planted 0.5 m apart. The biomass of corn Stover grown in the low-density configuration was larger than that of the control configuration by 4.9%. Also, the corn yield per square meter of the low-density configuration was larger than that of the control by 5.6%. The results of this research should encourage more conventional farmers, clean energy producers, and policymakers to consider adopting stilt-mounted PV systems, particularly in areas where land resources are relatively scarce.[4]
Research significance and objectives
[edit]As PV power stations grow, land occupation intended for solar farms will intensify competition for land resources between food and clean energy production. The question remains as to how competition for land resources between food and energy production can be resolved. Although PV systems require less land than other renewable energy options, in reality, commercial PV power stations can occupy a considerable land area at local scales. In many cases, the most suitable sites for solar power plants, which perform optimally with long daylight hours and minimal cloud cover, are classified as agricultural land.
This presents an issue, in that land supporting viable and diverse agriculture is likely to have more value as agricultural land than as a solar farm. This competition could be particularly serious in densely populated regions, mountainous areas, and small inhabited islands.
The fundamental problem tackled by this research was how to reduce competition for land resources between food production and PV power generation. In other words, the main objective was to identify a PV system that can help reduce the tension between limited land resources and increasing demands for food and clean energy. Although commercial PV power stations nevertheless occupy vast tracts of land at local scales, this problem could be solved by agrivoltaic systems.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Ucilia Wang (2012-07-03). "Get ready for solar sharing communities". Gigaom. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
- ^ Close, Curt (16 October 2013). "Japanese Farmers Producing Crops and Solar Energy Simultaneously". Permaculturenews. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
- ^ Collier, Steven (2013-10-21). "Solar 'Gardens' Let Communities Share Renewable Power – The Great Energy Challenge Blog". Energyblog -nationalgeographic. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
- ^ Nonhebel, Sanderine (April 2005). "Renewable energy and food supply: will there be enough land?". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 9 (2): 191–201. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2004.02.003. ISSN 1364-0321.
- ^ Fthenakis, Vasilis; Kim, Hyung Chul (August 2009). "Land use and electricity generation: A life-cycle analysis". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 13 (6–7): 1465–1474. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2008.09.017. ISSN 1364-0321.