Solar power for agriculture

Solar electric generation systems can power crop irrigation, oil, gas, and well water pumping stations, lights, farming products and other such products and systems for helping agriculture. These systems maximize the sun's available energy by supplying the majority of required power.

By leveraging the world's most abundant resource -- the sun -- and embracing renewable solar photovoltaic technology to generate clean reliable power, growers significantly reduced their operating costs and helped preserve New Jersey's natural beauty.

The electrical energy produced by a 250 kW solar electric system will provide 42% savings on annual water pumping electrical expenses. Projects net energy cost savings of $135,000 in year one. Savings increase over time as the lease price stays fixed and the utility cost of energy continues to rise.

The electrical expense for water pumping over the system's operating life of 25 years is projected to be over $16,000,000. This solar electric project will yield a Net Lifetime Savings of over $4,500,000 for a grower, and yields an Internal Rate of Return of 34%.

Helpful links from the NJ Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/
NJ Clean Energy Guide
Guide to using the NJ Clean Energy Website to determine if solar energy is cost effective for your farming operation.
www.nj.gov/agriculture/Solarenergyguide.pdf
New Jersey Clean Energy Program
Provides financial incentives to owners who install qualifying clean energy generation systems such as fuel cells, photovoltaics (solar electricity), small wind and sustainable biomass equipment.
www.njcep.com
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
This program currently funds grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business for assistance with purchasing renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements.
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html
Farm Energy Website
A successful new energy independence and economic development program
www.farmenergy.org
USDA Energy Page
USDA's comprehensive energy strategy to help farmers and ranchers mitigate the impact of high energy costs and develop long-term solutions.
www.usda.gov
United States Environmental Protection Agency - Clean Energy
www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/
Sun Grant Initiative
A concept to solve America's energy needs and revitalize rural communities with land-grant university research, education, and extension programs on renewable energy and biobased, non-food industries. search for renewable energy sources and the most effective ways to use them.
http://sdaes.sdstate.edu/sungrant/