A new handbook empowering landowners and solar developers to harness the benefits of combining agriculture with solar energy is now available.
EnergyCo will launch the Agrivoltaics Handbook, a guide to preserving productive agricultural practices while meeting the state’s growing renewable energy needs.
It was developed by Farm Renewables Consulting and Progressive Agriculture, with support from EnergyCo.
The handbook includes information for landowners wanting to graze sheep or cattle within solar farms, and/or grow crops and horticulture under solar panels, guidelines for how developers can incorporate farming into solar systems and comprehensive checklists of consideration in planning an agrisolar development.
It expands on the information available and guides leading industry practices as EnergyCo works with regional communities within the Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) to deliver a modern electricity grid for NSW.
REZ groups new wind and solar power generation into locations where it can be efficiently stored and transmitted across NSW.
Five REZ zones have so far been identified, including the Hunter-Central Coast, to keep NSW electricity reliable as coal-fired power stations retire.
The new handbook guides landowners already implementing this two-in-one solution on diversified income streams, shading for stock, heat and hail protection, and vegetation management.
“Farmers that host projects are crucial to the success of our renewable energy zones,” EnergyCo CEO Hannah McCaughey said.
“Having more practical information available on the opportunities and benefits empowers host communities and shows compatibility between renewables and our important agricultural industries.”
Farm Renewables Consulting Director Karin Stark said early engagement with landowners was important when shaping how renewable energy projects can coexist with farmland.
“The handbook comprehensively guides landowners and developers from planning and design, all the way through to maintenance,” she said.
The guide will be available at https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/renewable-energy-zones
