With the ever increasing effects of climate change, extreme draughts and economic struggles globally, farmers are in need of ways to turn a profit in cases where their produce fails. At the same time, the environment needs help to regain stability. With AgriFood and its range of advanced farming suppliers there are great modern energy solutions that can help both farms and benefit the environment!

Solar Farms

In many areas, especially those listed in SA farming directories, farms are being reduced to wide stretches of dry, sun-baked fields. Notably in areas experiencing severe draught these farmers are finding themselves less and less able to use their land for planting, and so more of it lies dry and unused, which is a financial drain that has no benefits.

These large, empty fields are the perfect locations for photovoltaic power stations (also known as solar parks/farms). These are large scale photovoltaic (solar power) systems where an array of solar modules are installed to catch and convert large amounts of sunlight directly into electrical energy. There are many different requirements and designs available, but with reliable farming suppliers and specialists a farmer with large stretches of land needing to be repurposed can make very good use of this source of clean energy.

As a practical example from South Africa, there is a solar farm producing energy to assist the country’s power grid. Amongst the various statistics that can be found on their website, they state that they have managed to supply Eskom with 85 458 MWh per year. If more farms were to utilise their extra field space in this way, it could go a long way to providing clean energy for many people.

Wind Farms

Wind farms, like solar farms, are a means for turning large areas of unused land into sites that produce clean, green energy. These wind farms make use of large wind turbines that look like propellers mounted on tall poles. These propellers are driven by the wind to turn, and this turning in turn drives the turbine, which converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy.

There are many different designs for these wind turbines, with the propeller-like ones being the most common. Aside from these different designs being better for different settings, it is also important to make sure that your farm’s location is actually suitable for generating power from wind.

Farmers have been inventing ways to help themselves and those they supply their produce to for centuries, and with these green energy initiatives they can keep on doing just that. Find a list of farming suppliers and other relevant and knowledgeable specialists on a reliable SA farming directory and see how you can use your land to make a difference.