POTENTIAL OF ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR LIVESTOCK HOUSING
Alice Gallo , Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna, ItalyAbstract
This study evaluates the feasibility and benefits of installing solar energy systems on the rooftops of livestock housing facilities. With growing energy demands in agricultural sectors and increasing attention to sustainability, utilizing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on these buildings presents a promising solution for renewable energy generation. We assess the energy potential of solar panels based on roof orientation, surface area, and local solar irradiance data. Furthermore, we examine economic considerations, including cost savings, return on investment, and potential incentives for solar adoption. The study also explores the benefits of solar energy systems in maintaining temperature stability within livestock facilities, which can positively impact animal welfare. Our findings indicate that rooftop solar installations can significantly contribute to energy self-sufficiency in livestock farms, reduce operational costs, and support sustainable farming practices. This research provides a framework for livestock farmers to integrate solar technology as part of a sustainable energy strategy.
Keywords
Solar energy potential, Livestock housing, Rooftop solar systems
References
Audfray J.L. 2007. Les capteurs solaires thermiques. Fiche no. D51.Chambre d’Agriculture de la Loire, Paris, France.
Blanco-Muriel M., Alarcón-Padilla D.C., López-Mortalla T., Chur L.M.2001. Computing the Solar Vector. Sol. Energy. 70:431-41.
Bruel A., Coutant S., Mary J., Menard J.l., Pilet J.M., Pineteau S.,Prud’homme J.F., Rocheteau P. 2010. Reussir son bâtiment agricoleavec du photovoltaïque. Chambre d’Agriculture de la Loire, Paris,France.
Guercini S. 2011. In stalla anche l’energia è un fattore di produzione.Informatore Zootecnico. 2:30-4.
European Commission (Joint Research Center). 2012. PhotovoltaicGeographical Information System (PVGIS). Available from:http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/apps4/pvest.php#
Liberati P., Zappavigna P. 2007. A dynamic computer model for opti-mization of the internal climate in swine housing design. T.ASABE. 50:2179-188.
Rossi P. 2011. Fotovoltaico: per le aziende zootecniche una buonaopportunità. Agricoltura. 39:55-6.
UNI (Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione). 1994. [Heating andcooling of buildings - Climatic data]. UNI 10349:1994. EnteNazionale Italiano di Unificazione, Roma, Italy. Available from:http://store.uni.com/magento-1.4.0.1/index.php/uni-10349-1994.html?josso_back_to=http://store.uni.com/josso-security-check.php&josso_cmd=login_optional&josso_partnerapp_host=store.uni.com
Van Caenegem L., Bollhalder H., Dörfler R., Gazzarin C., Nydegger F.,Ott H.R., Pasca A., Schmidlin A. 2009. Exploitation thermique desinstallations photovoltaïques intégréès dans la toiture. TänikonART, Tänikon, Switzerland.
Van Caenegem L., Pasca A. 2009. Combined electrical and thermal useof photovoltaic panels. Proc. European Forum Livestock housing forthe future, 22-23 October, Lille, France, pp 7-13
Article Statistics
Copyright License
Copyright (c) 2024 Alice Gallo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.