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Solar Powered Applications to Produce Food in Off-Grid Locations

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  2016 ASABE Annual International Meeting  162458213.(doi:10.13031/aim.20162458213)
Authors:   Gary L. Hawkins, R. Adam Speir, James Jacobs, D. Scott Carlson, Jeremy Kichler, Justin Lanier, John Bernard, Eugene Dyal, John Worley, L. Mark Risse
Keywords:   Solar powered, extension education, working solar models

Abstract.

Solar power has and will always be needed to provide energy for plants to produce food and fiber. However, the sun‘s energy is now also being captured to power pumps, fans and motors to produce food. Using USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants, farmers received solar powered systems to pump water for cattle and pecans, pump water for irrigation and other off-grid applications requiring AC electricity. Extension educators at the University of Georgia have demonstrated multiple uses of solar power and this will be the focus of this paper and presentation. The project was designed to be an on-farm demonstration project, but now also includes a mobile solar powered demonstration used at many different events to extend the educational base of the granted project. This data has been used to help educate individual farmers and groups on the usefulness of solar power in off-grid locations for production food.

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