As farm fuel costs rise, clear solar might offer a solution

Charles Sturt University leads new research into transparent solar panels In short: Charles Sturt University is investigating transparent solar panels for Australian agriculture. Researchers say the panels could improve animal welfare, increase production and help farmers save money. What's next? The first results from the research are expected in late 2027. New research into the use of transparent solar panels in agriculture is being touted as a possible solution for cash-strapped farmers dealing with rising diesel costs. The panels have gaps between the photovoltaic cells, allowing light to pass through. The Charles Sturt University (CSU) study will look at their use in livestock and horticulture management. CSU researcher Graham Sandral said in one project, the panels were installed in a sheep feedlot previously reliant on diesel generators. "[They're] designed to capture energy, which drives the automatic feeders, and allows enough light through so that in winter, sheep who happen to be sitting under the shade are still exposed to light and some warmth," he said. The sustainability director at CSU's AgriPark, Matt Muller, said apart from animal welfare benefits, there was growing interest from farmers in reducing input costs by switching to renewable electricity. "We've seen it with the price of diesel this year," he said. "There's so much in farming you can't control and if this is just one thing that we can take ownership on that's beneficial." The panels vary in transparency from 10 to 48 per cent, allowing for variables such as location, industry, and generation need. A secondary project will look at using the panels in vineyards. The hope is they will act as a greenhouse-like roof over the vines and be movable to allow for pruning. The company behind the technology, Sharp EIT, said the panels are already being used on farms in France, Austria and Belgium. Mr Sandral said it was important the panels were tested in Australian conditions. He said the panels had the potential to provide multifaceted benefits for grape growers. "You're protecting [the crop] from hail and other natural occurrences, which can bring potential damage, " he said. "But, you're also producing power at the winery, that can be utilised from the paddock, back into the wine production side of things." Cost vs returns The transparent solar panels are double the price of regular solar panels, which retail between $80 and $300 depending on size and wattage. Farmers for Climate Action outreach officer Peter Holding welcomed the research but said it would be vital it proved the panels delivered a return on investment and productivity gains. "The cost will come into it, because that's one of the major barriers to people putting them up in the first place," he said. "If they're twice as expensive, I can't see how a transparent panel would benefit anybody, putting them on a roof or putting them on unused ground." Mr Holding said while the panels could potentially drive down diesel costs, the electrification of farm machinery such as tractors and headers was where the biggest savings could be made. Wine Australia's environmental, social and governance (ESG) manager Julian Marchant said wineries were big users of electricity, so the panels did offer opportunities. He said there has been an increasing uptake of solar in the sector, but questions remained. "All the parts that make up the solar panels will need to be tested for their corrosiveness to farm chemicals," Mr Marchant said. "The sprayers go out quite often, so we'd need to make sure that they're protected from any spray that gets captured there." Mr Muller acknowledged there were land use tensions in regional Australia when it came to agriculture and renewable energy generation. "It's important that we demonstrate how they can work together and how the benefits can go for farming," he said. "I think if we get that, it will prove to individuals that this is something worthwhile to do and you can do it on your own property as well." Monitoring in the livestock project will start next month, with the analysis of results expected in late 2027.