Do solar panels help tea plants grow?

All the tea gardens in the survey agreed that the installation of large solar panels within the garden would not impact the growth of tea plants. The study also revealed that tea estates preferred to adopt solar among the alternative energy sources.

How many solar panels are in a tea garden?

This is the first time that a tea garden in this region has come up with such a large arrangement of solar power,” said garden manager Gajendra Sishodia. In the garden, 490 solar panels have been installed on a one-hectare plot. The panels can provide 1,040 kilowatt of power. Around Rs 4.5 crore has been spent on the project.

Can agrivoltaics be used in tea gardens?

Agrivoltaics, a method to combine agriculture and solar photovoltaics in the same plot of land, is also being considered for tea gardens. Tea garden managers will have to factor in wildlife movement spaces to sustainably integrate solar installations in such tea estates, note experts.

Why are tea estates experimenting with solar power?

Buoyed by India’s intent to achieve 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030, tea estates in northeast India are experimenting with solar power to cut costs and maintain production, amid challenges with the delivery of fossil fuel-based grid electricity.

Why do tea estates in Assam use solar?

Many tea estate gardens in Assam have set up solar installations to reduce costs, maintain a reliable electricity supply, and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Sunil Mohta of Kalinagar tea estate in southern Assam is satisfied after investing Rs. 40 lakhs (Rs. 4 million) in a 100 kilowatts peak (kWp) solar plant.

How long will a solar plant last in a tea garden?

“Given the fact that the total life of the plant is 25 years, this will be a very strong proposition for all tea garden owners to invest in such a solar plant,” he said, adding that there are plans of covering 100 tea gardens with solar in the next two years. Solar panels in the Kalinagar tea estate.