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Solar Energy & Electric Vehicles: A Perfect Match

9/22/2021

 
Clean energy writer
 By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Writer

Are you thinking of going electric and purchasing an EV? There are now more models on the market than ever before. Vehicle range is increasing as battery technology advances, and there is a more extensive charging infrastructure than ever before. In fact, there are 930 publicly available charging stations in Georgia. To make driving an electric vehicle as green as possible, it is vital to consider the type of electricity used for charging.

In Georgia, nearly half of our power comes from natural gas and 20% from coal. Unfortunately, less than 10% comes from renewable sources. Therefore, installing solar panels on your roof is an excellent way to power your electric vehicle from the sun and save money! 

Solar energy panels are more efficient than they were even a decade ago, so most homeowners have enough space on their roofs to generate most or all of their own electricity. As clean technologies become more common and widespread, many homeowners are looking at how to combine them. What’s great about installing solar panels is that the sun will power both your home and your car, also saving on fuel expenses.
 
How many solar panels do I need to charge my electric vehicle?
The answer to this depends on several factors. The Solar Plus team is skilled in properly sizing solar PV systems to get the most value out of the installation, so contact us if you would like help. 

Solar Energy
 
  • How sunny is your roof? Are there buildings or trees that shade it? We recommend installing solar PV panels on the south-facing roof whenever possible. If this isn’t an option, an east or west-facing roof is possible.
  • How efficient are the photovoltaic solar panels you are installing on your roof? The average panels are around 15 to 20 percent efficient. At Solar Plus, we can install high-efficiency solar panels that will produce more energy in small spaces.

 Electric Vehicles & Driving Habits
  • How far do you drive your electric vehicle? The average electric vehicle travels 5,300 miles per year, about half of the average.
  • How efficient is your vehicle? The average one needs about 30 kWh per 100 miles. The US Department of Energy has information on the efficiency of different models. Unfortunately, vehicle efficiency declines in cold weather, but Atlanta has little subzero weather.
  • Where do you charge your electric vehicle? Is it always at home, or do you sometimes charge at work or in public charging stations? As the charging infrastructure improves, you might charge your car more on the go than you do now, especially if the rates are economical.
 
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How to Make Solar Farms More Sustainable

9/15/2021

 
Sustainable energy writer
By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Energy Writer

As solar energy deployment increases, solar farms are becoming bigger than ever before. Large-scale solar farms have ground-mounted solar panels. Therefore, the way developers plan and manage those impacts wildlife and local ecosystems. How can solar professionals minimize the ecological impacts of solar farms?
It is essential to examine this question throughout all phases of solar farm development, from the initial planning phase to decommissioning.

Alternatives to Mowing
It is critical to minimize or eliminate shading on solar panels to boost electricity production. Therefore, many solar farm managers mow around the solar panels with gas-powered mowers and use herbicides. Unfortunately, these produce carbon emissions, burn fossil fuels, and contaminate air quality and water quality.
Using sheep to graze around the solar panels reduces or eliminates the need to mow and apply herbicides. Sheep are excellent at removing vegetation, even between solar panels. This prevents shading without chemicals or gas-powered equipment.

Encouraging Wildlife
Often, solar farms contain non-native plants or even gravel around the solar panels. This groundcover provides little value to wildlife, especially pollinators. Planting native wildflowers can help reduce the need to irrigate the groundcover, conserving water. Likewise, it gives fodder to pollinators. Once established, this landscape can reduce maintenance, saving money. Also, pollinators can provide a lot of value to farmers. If there are agricultural farms located nearby, native plants can help maintain pollinator populations, which can sometimes help protect crop yields.
​

Promoting Soil Health
Grazing sheep, cultivating native plants, and not apply herbicides all help maintain soil quality. In fact, soil health is critical for healthy ecosystems and productive farms. Solar farms may become cropland or wilderness areas after the solar farm is decommissioned. Thus, promoting soil health can help promote productive use of the property several decades from now.


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