Solar in Agriculture
Solar Livestock Watering
Remote or off-grid pumping (including solar, windmill, and generator-power) provides cost-effective livestock watering sources far from the utility grid. These systems give livestock greater access to forage. They also reduce livestock pressure on stream banks, preventing nutrient loading, damage to streamside vegetation, erosion and pollution. Why should you consider installing a solar-powered livestock watering system on your farm or ranch? How can you protect your system from freezing? You’ll find the answers to those questions in these publications:
Solar Pumping (325KB PDF)
Freeze Protection (218KB PDF)
PV power used to is pump water for this livestock tank.
Links
Harvesting Clean Energy
This website was created to provide well-organized and streamlined information, and serve as a clearinghouse for making energy projects happen in Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. Both renewables and agriculture have a strong presence on this site.
Publications
Agricultural Applications of Solar Energy
A DOE fact sheet that discusses a few applications of solar energy technologies in agriculture.
Alternative Energy for Agriculture
A publications list from the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, with online links.
Solar Powered Livestock Watering Systems
A publication from ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service that includes discussions of cost, components, and terminology, as well as some suggestions for designing and installing these systems. Strengths and weaknesses of solar pumping are compared to the main options for pumping in remote locations: mechanical windmills and portable generators powered by gas, propane, or diesel fuel.
Water Pumping: The Solar Alternative (pdf)
This 38-page guide from Sandia National Lab describes the characteristics of PV-powered pumping
systems including their ease of procurement and installation, and small maintenance requirements, which account for their growing popularity.