Solar on-farm power generation
Research into on farm power generation has produced details of the options, and explored feasibility of adoption of such systems. Growers can use this to help them make informed decisions about the economic, technical and operational costs and benefits of the various technologies, the challenges of installation and operation, and the suitability of systems to individual ventures. Whilst solar PV currently contributes a small proportion of global electricity generation, there has been remarkable growth in its installed capacity and power generated over the ten or so years to 2014, due largely to rapid evolution in PV technology, significant reductions in cost, and substantial subsidies that renewables have attracted. Solar PV is one of the key options for on-site power generation, and is already widely used by Australian farmers and growers, especially in the sun-rich states. Poor financial performance of solar PV in some instances was due to the low price of electricity excluding demand charges.