By Blake Jackson
Cornell University's Hudson Valley Research Laboratory is exploring the potential of solar panels to enhance apple orchard productivity and sustainability.
The lab proposes to install a 300-kilowatt solar arrangement over 1,100 apple trees, aiming to provide shade and warmth while generating clean energy.
“Nobody in North America has ever covered an apple orchard with solar panels,” said Jared Buono, director of the laboratory, located in Highland, New York. “This is all about farm viability.”
Agrivoltaics, the practice of combining agriculture and solar energy, has gained attention as a means of protecting crops from extreme weather and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Buono and his colleagues aim to demonstrate how solar panels can benefit apple orchards in a changing climate.
The researchers have installed agricultural mesh at different heights to simulate solar panel conditions and study the impact on young apple trees.
By next summer, they will be able to examine how varieties and rootstock react to covered or uncovered conditions.
"We'll track the sun," Buono said. "When we want to let sunlight in, we'll be able to anti-track the panels. When we want to keep the sun off the trees, we'll be able to cover them."
New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act sets ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and agriculture is actively seeking ways to contribute.
“This research could help New York meet climate goals while keeping farmers farming and keeping the food system vibrant,” Buono said. “We have options. This research is providing possibilities for growers while we produce sustainable renewable energy.”
At a solar farm project in Ravena, New York, extension associate Caroline Marschner has planted a fall crop of lettuce, spinach, radishes, strawberries, and raspberries under a large commercial solar array.
The Cornell Agrivoltaics Research program aims to assess how crops can flourish under existing solar panels. Marschner and her colleagues are studying the challenges and opportunities associated with agrivoltaics farming, including issues related to electricity, insurance, and safety.
In western New York, Cornell students have found that agrivoltaics in Concord grape vineyards can create mutual benefits for growers and solar developers.
"We're studying all aspects of agrivoltaics so that farmers and policy makers can make informed decisions," said Toni DiTommaso, professor in soil and crop sciences. "It's a different ecosystem from all perspectives, like pest management and weeds."
Photo Credit: istock-shansekala
Categories: New York, Education