Idaho has always been a state heavily invested in agriculture. From the famous Idaho potato (the state provides a third of the entire national annual yield) through to hay, wheat, and alfalfa, agriculture accounts for around 20% of the local economy. Needless to say – the higher the yield, the greater the rewards – and few other industries must pay such close attention to their bottom line to create a healthy profit.
For agriculture, energy costs can be enormous and farmers should always be looking for ways to make their operation more efficient. Solar power offers the perfect opportunity for agricultural concerns to not only generate a high proportion of their own energy requirements but also sell excess yield back to the grid.
Agricultural Buildings Are Perfect For Solar Panels
Buildings such as grain stores and refrigeration warehouses require large amounts of electricity. Combine this with networked irrigation systems, outdoor lighting, electrified fences and a host of other power demanding requirements essential for agricultural purposes and you are going to be facing considerable grid electricity costs. Solar power can shave a huge amount off this sum – especially if modern high yield panels are installed with professional knowledge and positioning.
Most agricultural buildings are ideal for the installation of solar panels. The large roof space is one thing, but just as important is the fact that most tend to offer a 10-15° roof pitch which is perfect for solar power generation. Thanks to the majority of Idaho agricultural buildings being the tallest in their vicinity and allied with a general lack of obstacles such as trees, hills and taller buildings, there is no reason why solar panels cannot work with high efficiency.
Agricultural Solar Energy Is A Solid Long Term Investment
Farmers are advised to look thoroughly into the current federal and state incentives for installing agricultural solar power systems. While these are fewer in Idaho compared to other states the ones in place can shave a considerable chunk off the installation cost. 40-50% off the baseline figure is far from uncommon when considering tax offsets and the soon expiring federal incentives.
While Idaho currently enjoys some of the lowest grid energy costs in the nation there is no certainty that this will remain the case over the next couple of decades. Chances are that they will rise, which partially explains why so many of the largest energy companies are encouraging agricultural operators to consider solar power. After all, agriculture is a long term business and it is not unreasonable to make forecasts several years down the line. A good installation can make positive returns not only within a decade or so but then provide 20+ years of sheer profit while the panels continue to operate.
Over the long term not only will Idaho solar power save far beyond the installation costs, but it offers an additional level of security against future rising energy costs. Excess generation can either be stored for use overnight or in less sunny months (highly advisable) or returned to the energy grid for a dollar-dollar rebate on the following bills. If considering this be sure to look into the size limitations as these tend to be restrictive at the moment – and again are likely to change in a positive fashion in the near future.
Solar Panels In Idaho Are Efficient & Long Lasting
Something many people tend to overlook when it comes to considering solar power is the fact that not all panels are the same! The most recent panels are not only more cost-effective compared to previous models but more efficient compared to those released to market a decade ago. Once installed they require little maintenance, perhaps only a powerwash every few months to reduce soil and dust coatings. Solar panels are extremely reliable and very rarely ever malfunction.
Even better, solar panels are relatively simple to install (most of the time) and can be placed on any suitable rooftop. Additional panels can be added at any time without any significant downtime – meaning that the next generation of panels offering even more utility can simply be added to your network at any stage.
Additional Value
Agricultural users should remember that solar panels will add considerable value to their holdings, especially after a few years of demonstrable energy savings. Unlike many other assets which will generally deplete in value with use, solar energy systems can actually accentuate value by showing proven and enhanced efficiency. In Idaho, the seasons tend to be very dependable so after a couple of years, you will be in a position to provide accurate energy saving forecasts that can be factored into other operating costs. When grid energy costs are always prone to unexpected rises it adds additional peace of mind that all farmers will appreciate.
Remember that carbon footprints are becoming ever more important to buyers (after all, it is significant to their marketing policies). By using solar panels to power a significant part of your operation you will likely have additional weight when negotiating on the supply chain.
Solar power is ideal for agricultural use. Anyone considering making this upgrade should look to take action quickly as the aforementioned incentives are reaching their deadlines. While the base cost of the installation may be a significant dollar amount, remember that it should be considered a business deal and one that will be excellent value moving into the future. Given that the sun is so important to agricultural production it makes perfect sense to harness its power for additional energy requirements – something which modern solar panels can do both successfully and easily.
For agriculture, energy costs can be enormous and farmers should always be looking for ways to make their operation more efficient. Solar power offers the perfect opportunity for agricultural concerns to not only generate a high proportion of their own energy requirements but also sell excess yield back to the grid.
Agricultural Buildings Are Perfect For Solar Panels
Buildings such as grain stores and refrigeration warehouses require large amounts of electricity. Combine this with networked irrigation systems, outdoor lighting, electrified fences and a host of other power demanding requirements essential for agricultural purposes and you are going to be facing considerable grid electricity costs. Solar power can shave a huge amount off this sum – especially if modern high yield panels are installed with professional knowledge and positioning.
Most agricultural buildings are ideal for the installation of solar panels. The large roof space is one thing, but just as important is the fact that most tend to offer a 10-15° roof pitch which is perfect for solar power generation. Thanks to the majority of Idaho agricultural buildings being the tallest in their vicinity and allied with a general lack of obstacles such as trees, hills and taller buildings, there is no reason why solar panels cannot work with high efficiency.
Agricultural Solar Energy Is A Solid Long Term Investment
Farmers are advised to look thoroughly into the current federal and state incentives for installing agricultural solar power systems. While these are fewer in Idaho compared to other states the ones in place can shave a considerable chunk off the installation cost. 40-50% off the baseline figure is far from uncommon when considering tax offsets and the soon expiring federal incentives.
While Idaho currently enjoys some of the lowest grid energy costs in the nation there is no certainty that this will remain the case over the next couple of decades. Chances are that they will rise, which partially explains why so many of the largest energy companies are encouraging agricultural operators to consider solar power. After all, agriculture is a long term business and it is not unreasonable to make forecasts several years down the line. A good installation can make positive returns not only within a decade or so but then provide 20+ years of sheer profit while the panels continue to operate.
Over the long term not only will Idaho solar power save far beyond the installation costs, but it offers an additional level of security against future rising energy costs. Excess generation can either be stored for use overnight or in less sunny months (highly advisable) or returned to the energy grid for a dollar-dollar rebate on the following bills. If considering this be sure to look into the size limitations as these tend to be restrictive at the moment – and again are likely to change in a positive fashion in the near future.
Solar Panels In Idaho Are Efficient & Long Lasting
Something many people tend to overlook when it comes to considering solar power is the fact that not all panels are the same! The most recent panels are not only more cost-effective compared to previous models but more efficient compared to those released to market a decade ago. Once installed they require little maintenance, perhaps only a powerwash every few months to reduce soil and dust coatings. Solar panels are extremely reliable and very rarely ever malfunction.
Even better, solar panels are relatively simple to install (most of the time) and can be placed on any suitable rooftop. Additional panels can be added at any time without any significant downtime – meaning that the next generation of panels offering even more utility can simply be added to your network at any stage.
Additional Value
Agricultural users should remember that solar panels will add considerable value to their holdings, especially after a few years of demonstrable energy savings. Unlike many other assets which will generally deplete in value with use, solar energy systems can actually accentuate value by showing proven and enhanced efficiency. In Idaho, the seasons tend to be very dependable so after a couple of years, you will be in a position to provide accurate energy saving forecasts that can be factored into other operating costs. When grid energy costs are always prone to unexpected rises it adds additional peace of mind that all farmers will appreciate.
Remember that carbon footprints are becoming ever more important to buyers (after all, it is significant to their marketing policies). By using solar panels to power a significant part of your operation you will likely have additional weight when negotiating on the supply chain.
Solar power is ideal for agricultural use. Anyone considering making this upgrade should look to take action quickly as the aforementioned incentives are reaching their deadlines. While the base cost of the installation may be a significant dollar amount, remember that it should be considered a business deal and one that will be excellent value moving into the future. Given that the sun is so important to agricultural production it makes perfect sense to harness its power for additional energy requirements – something which modern solar panels can do both successfully and easily.
No comments:
Post a Comment