Solar Panel on the Farmland
The wind is still chilly, but the sun is becoming somewhat warm these days.
As a project to utilize the sunshine, solar panel was installed at Goheiyama-nouen, Mr. Fujie’s farmland, where he grows blueberry and fig. I visited his farm to see the installation of the panels.
The trestle had been built in the blueberry field.
I had ever seen solar panels only on the roof or on the ground.
But here they install the panels 3 meters above the blueberry field with the sufficient space between the panels to maintain the sunshine condition for the blueberry.
This is a new method called “solar sharing.”
This was the field for people to enjoy blueberry picking when it is in the season, and it remain the same this year. It is a way to utilize the land effectively.
In this blueberry field, it generates enough electricity to provide power to10 homes.
The electricity generated is going to be sold Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc.
I was most surprised that the people who were installing the panels were the acquaintances each other, not outsourced engineers.
They are of course knowledgeable about solar system including solar system related engineers, but they are also supporters of the project.
Some people are from Ichihara-shi, and even from Fukushima prefecture!
It was lively on the day with total 19 people participated as a helper.
They also do detailed assembling works by themselves.
Persons who were used to work in high place installed the panel one by one. The total number of the panel was 180 pieces.
They think that they build it themselves, so it becomes their own matter, not someone else’s matter, and it is also good that they can fix themselves when it is broken.
They create an actual example by themselves, and would like expand the method to other people who have land or fallow land.
It must be a tough work, but they talk pleasantly.
Solar energy grows blueberry and generates electricity at the same time, while people’s energy are so powerful as well!
You will be able to enjoy blueberry picking under the driving solar panel next time!
I look forward to it!
< Horii / Yasuko )
