Farming has always been a costly business, and one of the largest ongoing costs facing farm owners today is energy bills. Electricity runs irrigation systems, livestock facilities, climate-controlled storage, and processing equipment, and those costs add up quickly. Agricultural solar solutions are no longer simply an environmental statement for farm owners in the Princeton, NJ area. TerraSol Energies has been guiding Farms throughout the tri-state area, making it easy for them to make solar a clear-cut decision that transforms their operations away from how they used to manage their bottom line.
Why Energy Costs Hit Farms Harder Than Most Businesses?
Agriculture is amongst the highest energy-intensive industries across the globe. In contrast to an office building that operates based on lights and computers, a working farm can be sucking energy 24 hours a day, pumping water, providing climate control, refrigeration, and running heavy equipment. And closing in New Jersey just compounds that problem: Every kWh is a cost that eats away at margins already stretched thin simply because they are so thin.
However, what makes solar especially appropriate for farming is the footprint. Quite a lot of farm-based parcels have precisely what solar installations want: open fields, huge roof coverings on barns and outbuildings, and little shading from timber or buildings. Not only does this acreage make growing feasible, but it also renders one of the most optimal settings for producing copious amounts of solar energy onsite.
What Agricultural Solar Actually Looks Like on a Working Farm?
Not all farms installing solar are the same; farm installations vary based on the operation. On agricultural properties, ground-mounted systems are typical, utilizing open properties that reside between fields or alongside property borders. Another method that is particularly efficient and doesn’t remove productive land from use is rooftop installations on barns, equipment sheds, and storage buildings.
TerraSol Energies specializes in designing custom solar systems for farms, creating each installation to meet the energy needs and physical layout of the property. The team takes care of all steps along the way from early proposal and system design to permitting, installation, and grid connectivity, allowing farm owners to run their day-to-day business rather than managing a build. For farm owners in Princeton, NJ, considering solar for the first time, that turnkey approach makes the transition much easier than most people think.
The Financial Case for Going Solar on Your Farm
When it comes to agricultural solar, the numbers are compelling. An appropriately sized solar system can effectively bring a farm’s monthly electricity bill down to zero, with savings that grow year over year as electricity bills rise. Since most agricultural solar installations average less than a 5-year payback period, anything beyond that time is essentially free energy.
Add in some federal incentives, and the argument becomes even stronger. Farm owners can currently recover up to 30% off their total installation cost through the Investment Tax Credit, which reduces their payback period considerably. As part of the installation process, TerraSol Energies connects clients with incentive programs and steps them through the paperwork associated with it so farm owners get every dollar possible in savings without having to face the process alone.
Solar and Sustainability: A Natural Fit for Agriculture
Solar is near the top of the list in sustainable practices that agriculture can take because farming is so inherently tied to the natural world. With clean energy generation on-site, farms can achieve a carbon reduction of nearly 80%, a metric that is more important than ever to consumers, distributors, and agricultural partners who are narrowing their focus on environmental impact.
Another initiative from TerraSol Energies is to introduce farm owners to the concept of agrivoltaics, as solar panels are erected over active growing areas, a single piece of land can produce electricity while still farming it. This is becoming a popular approach among progressive producers looking to make the most of every acre without compromising managed crop land. Has introduced possibilities that didn’t exist a decade ago for Princeton, NJ farm owners who find their land tied.
How to Choose the Right Solar Partner for Your Farm?
Not every solar installer has the agricultural project experience. Installation on a farm raises specific structural issues that may demand higher energy coverage than a residential rooftop installation, and will typically require more involved permitting. So picking a company that does commercial and agricultural solar and not just someone who serves mainly homeowners really goes a long way in the quality of the end system.
New Jersey agricultural solar installation companies will provide you with a price on the system size, estimated savings, and available incentives for your farm or other type of operation throughout Princeton, NJ, and the greater tri-state area. TerraSol Energies boasts over 15 years of extensive solar experience and a team of seasoned, certified installers to meet the demands of agricultural projects.
The Right Time to Make the Switch
Energy prices are not going to fall, and the incentives available today will not always be this favourable. The financial and practical case for Princeton, NJ farm owners to add agricultural solar solutions cannot be more convincing. With your operation is a custom system, which can deliver decades of reduced energy costs, greater energy independence, and a smaller environmental footprint starting from the first month it comes online.
