Sola-Gro South Africa

Sola-Gro SA (SGSA) - for Power, Food and Water security...

The 'Sola-Shed' - Modular Sustainable Agrivoltaics at its best....

'Built for Africa - Used by the World'

SGSA's key driver for solar power, vertical hydroponic module deployment (produce production), water production through AWG's plus rain water harvesting is 'power, food and water security' - This is a dream for every country worldwide!!!

Integrating solar power and crop cultivation to the benefit of both is called Agrivoltaics and this field of agriculture has emerged to explore many different ways of incorporating solar arrays into farmlands without sacrificing that farmland’s arable land, which effectively allows landowners to cultivate crops and generate clean energy at the same time.

Using a 'Sola-Shed' on the other hand for 'your' Agrivoltaics (see below) means that the producing of power, food and water can be done anywhere.... from farmlands, plots, school yards, concrete roofs of buildings and parking garages to any open area and will be easy to erect using basic tools.

Add to that hydroponic and aeroponic vertical farming methods and any farmer can utilize their non productive areas of their farms for multiple types of produce plus this methodology also becomes a way forward for smaller farms, plots and community ‘open areas’ to effectively produce power through its 'optional' single axis tracking (always enclosed - but not a necessary feature) solar array 'roof' while growing more produce from a smaller cultivation footprint.

Our specially designed and adjustable 'Sola-Shed' systems will also benefit any 'farmer' with the addition of different water harvesting methods (gutter & storage to the possible use of a water from air - Atmospheric Water Generator / AWG) for crop irrigation and personal consumption needs. The Sola-Sheds are 'closed' systems which also allows them to operate in many 'hostile' regions - think jungles, deserts to much colder climates (with a little help from water heating) plus helps contain pests and at the same time contains any possible fertilizer spill-over into surrounding eco systems and water sources so can be considered an eco friendly and 'green' option which all helps with climate control because of the inbuilt 'systems sustainability'.

Research worldwide has also indicated that growing produce beneath photovoltaic arrays can actually yield good agricultural and environmental benefits. What can basically be grown in 1sq/m of soil can be multiplied from 8 to 15 times in this type of system... so what can be grown in a Sola-Shed you would need 750 to 800 sq/m for soil agiculture. Thanks to the shade provided by the solar panels and roof of the Sola-Shed, the hydroponic systems will retain more water with less evaporation, meaning it needs much less irrigation (90% + less for the same quantity production). The Sola-Sheds can also help protect crops from hailstorms, high winds, and severe cold or heat, making them less vulnerable to extreme weather. There is even evidence to suggest that certain crops will actually show better growth in a shorter time, be stronger and grow slightly bigger under the protective covering of solar panels than they might normally do otherwise, especially in hotter and drier growing environments and areas but also in regions prone to too much rain...

As the already hot and sunny parts of the world become even hotter and drier, the implications that are being presented worldwide are enormous, for the crops, the yield, for less irrigation to the use of water harvesting solutions. So, using some or all of all the above systems would be to the benefit of the farmers themselves, for their communities and for the markets they serve.

Research has also shown that the benefits of Agrivoltaics cuts both ways - that putting plants beneath solar panels can actually improve the performance of the panels and not just for the plants. This would be because extreme heat does negatively affect the efficiency of photovoltaic cells which tend to generate more energy when the space around them is cooler, so growing vegetation or crops under panels leads to an increase in ground shade and humidity, which in turn leads to cooler photovoltaic cells and higher energy yields. Another study found that panels with vegetation beneath them generated up to 10% more energy than those that had been placed on roofs or over graveled areas. 

For the smaller farmers and communities that could benefit the most in South Africa (and worldwide) would be the peri-urban and rural communities because these systems use less land, less irrigation and fertilization plus provides its own electricity and water for its own use on the farm and possibly to the local community plus provides varied and different cash crops (food production) and this growth is sustainable all year round.... this would be power, food and water security and sustainability from grassroots level up.

These 'Sola-Sheds' would be built in a production facility (factory) and delivered in modular kits to clients and adaptable to suit the requirements, needs and finance of each client and the requirements presented at each site (what is to be grown to availability of services and water). The water from air system (if needed), solar panels, battery packs, inverters, pump and reticulation system to control panels that control all systems will be designed to seamlessly integrate into each separate Sola-Shed as required and easy to operate.

These Sola-Shed systems can be implemented by anyone, from home owners, plot holders, businesses, building owners, schools, communities to farmers with each system being made up to suit the needs, wants and price limits of each client in adjustable and (multiple) different sized Sola-Sheds.

The Sola-Shed would incorporate Hydroponic, Aeroponic, Green-stalk units to Aeroponic Potato Boxes and more.

The area in South Africa that would be preferable to set up the Sola-Gro SA factory would be in the Western Cape where a facility would be close enough to possible suppliers of materials and one other possible plus for us would be the buy back of excess electricity by the City of Cape Town (if we were in their municipal area) which would help with finances while helping build power generation in the Cape and last but not least, we would have easy access to the Cape Town docks for the export of the Sola-Sheds.

We are looking for Individuals, companies, organizations, sponsors and/or investors to become partners or help in setting up this production facility and will welcome all interested parties, local or worldwide.

If though you are interested in buying the rights to manufacture the Sola-Shed for your country, the price will be very reasonable.... so contact me and lets talk.

For more information please contact me:

Graham Riley / CEO - Founder 'Sola-Gro South Africa' (SGSA)

SA: 082 082 7711  -  International:  027 82 082 7711

power.food.water@gmail.com

** I presently reside in Amanzimtoti, Kwazulu Natal but would relocate to the Cape to set up and run Sola-Gro SA. I was a vegetable and tobacco farmer in former years and also lived in the Western Cape so know the area and the possibilities this area presents.