On-farm applications of solar energy

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6548793

Butler, J L

The solar energy used by photosynthesis must be supplemented with additional energy in order to maintain a highly productive agriculture. Petroleum energy, which supplies most of the energy for production agriculture appears to be nearing depletion. Approximately half of the energy requirement is for stationary uses, such as environmental temperature and humidity control, crop drying, water heating, and irrigation. Energy for all these, especially the first three may be supplied by solar energy. Much of the technology is available to make the applications now, but economic feasibility may depend upon additional increase in the cost of fossil fuel energy. In most areas, additional research is needed to reduce the gap between present system costs and economic feasibility, especially for those uses which are highly seasonal in nature.

• Research Organization: SEA Southern Agricultural Energy Center, Tifton, GA
• OSTI ID: 6548793
• Report Number(s): CONF-800604-P2
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 3.1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
140905*
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL SHELTERS
BUILDINGS
CROPS
DRYING
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FARMS
GREENHOUSES
HEAT
HEATING
INDUSTRY
PROCESS HEAT
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SHELTERS
SOLAR DRYING
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SPACE HEATING