The Benefits of Powering Your Farm with Solar Energy
As a food producer, you manage a wide range of fixed and variable costs – many of which are on the rise. Worse still, it’s becoming harder to protect dwindling margins against a backdrop of global competition, disrupted supply chains, and ever-changing regulations.
However, there are some costs you can control.
For example, the electricity you use to power your operations likely comes from a utility provider. But by installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, it’s possible to convert existing rooftops and brownfield tracts into mini power stations that save you money. With this approach, you can generate clean electricity from the free sunshine that already hits your farm each and every day.
Going solar also helps to shield you from utility rate fluctuations, which allows you to better manage both short-term and long-term risk. It’s impossible to predict how much your utility provider will charge for grid electricity next year. But with solar PV installed, you’ll know exactly what your energy costs will be 25 to 30 years into the future.
Adding on-site solar batteries to your PV system further future-proofs your operations. In the event of a grid failure, for example, you’ll still enjoy reliable access to clean electricity – even if the rest of the community is in the dark. In an industry with shrinking profits, having an uninterrupted power supply translates to less downtime and greater operational continuity.
Is Going Solar Truly Worth the Upfront Cost?
As with any investment – from buying equipment to building grain bins – there are capital outlays associated with installing solar PV panels. The question is, do the long-term benefits of on-site power generation justify the upfront cost?
Every farm is different, meaning there is no universal “right” answer that will fit all situations. But going solar allows you to control (if not eliminate) one of your biggest operational expenses – i.e. energy bills. From the moment your PV panels come online, you start saving money. Better still, those savings compound month after month, freeing up valuable resources that you can then invest elsewhere.
Moreover, adding on-site solar power is a business expense that qualifies for the same deductions, amortization, and tax benefits you already use when financing other types of capital improvements.
Most important, however, installing solar is an investment that pays for itself 3 to 4 times over throughout the 25+ years of your PV panels’ warrantied lifetimes. And keep in mind that this payback period is at today’s grid electricity rates. The value of your clean energy investment will only increase as utility prices go up.
Ready to Go Solar Today?
Whether to reduce costs, future-proof your operations, or ensure business continuity, solar PV is a powerful technology that can make your farm more resilient. As an added bonus, creating clean electricity from free sunshine also helps to protect the environment. Rather than rely on electricity generated from fossil fuel, going solar allows you to power your operations with an infinite energy source that doesn’t pollute.
Let us walk you through the numbers to help you determine if going solar is the right fit for you. To get started, request a free Solar Quote today.
