I think that ship has sailed! Should feature in most LBC ‘best of 2024’s though… - ThreadSky

mrjamesob.bsky.social • 145 days ago

I think that ship has sailed! Should feature in most LBC ‘best of 2024’s though…

@mrjamesob.bsky.social
You may want to direct this to the farmer who thinks you're an idiot and who can't stand the idea of solar panels.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org/another-stud...

Comments

tonyeye.bsky.social•145 days ago

So many UK farmers have not yet seen the light...
Also, it works really well over crops like soft fruit that prefer the shade.

farmerukr.bsky.social•145 days ago

Will not increase yields in most areas and in most will depress yields significantly

tonyeye.bsky.social•145 days ago

If you're growing a shade loving crop below panels, then the yield should be the same as if they were shaded. Plus, you get the power that increases income.

farmerukr.bsky.social•145 days ago

Not necessarily Tony, speaking as a crop and environmental scientist. It needs further independent research and economic analysis rather than extravagant claims. Harvesting issues?

tonyeye.bsky.social•145 days ago

Take a look at this.
The panels are mounted at about 3m, and cropping continues as normal.
We need some pragmatism here to stop farmers covering their land with panels and going for a higher income.
https://www.solarpowereurope.org/insights/thematic-reports/agrisolar-handbook-1

farmerukr.bsky.social•145 days ago

Tractors and combines higher than 3m

milneorchid.bsky.social•145 days ago

Joined up thinking like this is what we need more of ...

farmerukr.bsky.social•145 days ago

Can't be good for both uses

milneorchid.bsky.social•144 days ago

Yes it can. Elevated solar panels can be used to alter the microclimate for crops, especially where snlight is not the limiting factor for growth. It's quite different from simply filling a field with panels and taking t out of use for food growing.

farmerukr.bsky.social•143 days ago

Can't be optimal for both uses I should have said.

milneorchid.bsky.social•142 days ago

Perhaps not, but as a general principle using land for one use only is seldom the most efficient way. Polyculture is an example. They should certainly be putting solar panels on every suitable roof before taking farmland out of use.

farmerukr.bsky.social•142 days ago

A finite quantum of solar radiation hits each m² and energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Polyculture not suited to mechanisation. Hand labour expensive/unavailable.

simon.posts.dog•145 days ago

Speaking of ships; up here on the north Norfolk coast the fish and therefore seal population is expanding coz of windfarms. Trawlers can’t go too near, and the bases of the wind vanes are becoming reefs.

garethsimkins.bsky.social•145 days ago

Hi James. I run media relations for the trade association Solar Energy UK - so if you want to pick this or related subjects up, you know where to come.

homertrix.bsky.social•145 days ago

Guessing you’ve seen the interesting 2015(!!!) study that shows, per acre, you get more miles out of solar when you compare land use for biofuels. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921344914002705

garethsimkins.bsky.social•145 days ago

Yes - and by several country miles, cubed, I might add.

cmw77.bsky.social•145 days ago

I look forward to watching a combined harvester get round that installation.

cmw77.bsky.social•145 days ago

Even in livestock rearing areas it takes large machines to gather a silage crop for winter fodder.

tooshortplanks.bsky.social•145 days ago

You never will. The use of solar panels on arable land is mutually exclusive.

ellydavis.bsky.social•145 days ago

I still have my doubts about that farmer call. I don't think LBC set it up but I think he wasn't genuine. Remember Mr Angry from Radio 1 years ago, I reckon it was something doing a bit like that.

poppy53.bsky.social•145 days ago

That farmer's utter stupidity beyond anything one can understand, and then him admitting he never even listened to James O'brien.

spraindsquirrel.bsky.social•144 days ago

Yeah, very good.

I still don't get why roofs, rail, roads and carparks aren't a better bet, though.

gerardbatt.bsky.social•145 days ago

… oh… and DON’T call me “mate”! I don’t even like you.

andyrambler.bsky.social•144 days ago

Been saying for perhaps a couple of decades that if you elevate and mount solar panels two metres up you can grow crops and or graze animals below them. I've a quiet voice that gets ignored, but there are plenty like me out here that have good ideas. Strangely enough, we're not idiots.

cezarym.bsky.social•145 days ago

Idiots

poppiesscore.bsky.social•145 days ago

Let them. We'll dig up their fields!

healthatjune.bsky.social•145 days ago

Clever farmers

homertrix.bsky.social•145 days ago

There is also an interesting 2015(!!!) study that shows, per acre, you get more miles out of solar when you compare land use for biofuels. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921344914002705

drjohnh.bsky.social•145 days ago

Might be interesting in the Pennines. Keeping the sheep dry, perhaps?

thatrosiewood.bsky.social•145 days ago

Or just point out that a little sensible succession planning and he would continue to be exempt from IHT...

nickhee.bsky.social•144 days ago

Solar panels are also a great way to cover open car parks, providing shade and rain protection

ozziedave.bsky.social•145 days ago

One for @lizztruss.

slamb.bsky.social•145 days ago

It's been good listening to Iain Dale , makes you realize how much you actually miss JOB

aliceabear.bsky.social•145 days ago

Iain is very fair minded and an absolute joy to listen to.

georgebas5.bsky.social•145 days ago

Farm owners should hook up with the National Grid to form a new green electricity initiative. They could call it British Solar Energy (BSE): spreading positivity through the UK and beyond.

tykegriff1956.bsky.social•145 days ago

James I am gutted who is doing your show Monday Thursday and Friday deffo not listening to them 3 clowns 🤡🤡🤡

jaxsonelliott92.bsky.social•145 days ago

Oh god, who is it this time?

alyssacreates.bsky.social•145 days ago

jaxsonelliott92.bsky.social•145 days ago

Jesus no.

What is this, the Tory preservation week?

alyssacreates.bsky.social•145 days ago

Maybe they think they've got too many listeners when James is on & want us to step away from the radio for a while, lmao.

jaxsonelliott92.bsky.social•145 days ago

Hahaha it's probably just to give James something to riff on when he gets back, or maybe it's to make people see how good they have it with James hahaha

rebecca77.bsky.social•145 days ago

Oh good god! @lbc.co.uk flipping Suella Braverman again!!!!!!!!!!

el-presidente.bsky.social•145 days ago

On the best of 2024, I finally got round to Kneecap last night & oh my lord, is it ever a ride.

mrjamesob.bsky.social•145 days ago

It’s most definitely grand.

kathrynlj.bsky.social•145 days ago

Here in France solar panels are used on the roofs of all the piggeries and milking parlors . Large free standing panels which move with the sun are used in free range chicken farms,using the panels like trees for shade. Milking parlors are covered in solar panels. Their aim is energy independence.

farmerukr.bsky.social•145 days ago

The work is not impartial and rather dodgy analysis for vested interest.Reduces yield.Headline very poor.Crop yields very dependent on solar radiation interception.As is yield from solar panels.Two competing sinks. Energy can neither be destroyed nor created.It can't be used twice in this context.

itseperkele.bsky.social•145 days ago

Yeah I'm rather skeptical about it *boosting* yield...

jimmbuzz.bsky.social•145 days ago

I can believe it boosts yields (in Arizona), because condensation on the metal gives needed moisture and the structures provide some shade against extreme sun.
But any metal structure should do this.
It would have to be removed for harvest too and that would probably rule it out for real life use.

farmerukr.bsky.social•145 days ago

They have raised frames which allow hand harvesting underneath so not suitable imho for broadacre crops eg cereals etc

itseperkele.bsky.social•145 days ago

Unless they have a way of easy removal. But that would have to include all the posts and supports etc. Probably a half a days job at minimum

farmerukr.bsky.social•145 days ago

More than 1/2day methinks. Structures need to be permanent and high level I think.Maybe motors to tilt out of way?But expensive and crop underneath would be uneconomic unless very high value.Most crops require multiple passes per season eg cereals 6 or 7 so need to allow tractor,sprayer,combine etc

lastofthefive0s.bsky.social•145 days ago

The fade out during his rant was just a thing of beauty.

andrewjfrizzell.bsky.social•145 days ago

I think it’s Tuscan vinyards that are grown in a way to provide shade for the grapes so why not use solar panels to do the job? #ThinkDifferently.

farmerukr.bsky.social•145 days ago

Different intensity and structure of shading.

vinnyc100.bsky.social•145 days ago

James get back on air now - Cleverly is seriously letting the side down!

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply