Welcome to agrivoltaic farming!

SILAY City has secured another significant solar investment. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday, February 19, in Barangay E. Lopez for a P3-billion, 69- megawatt ( MW) solar farm project, which will cover 70 hectares of land owned by the Ramos family.

This marks the second solar farm in Silay, following the nineyear- old, P5- billion, 25- MW solar farm i n Barangay Rizal. Both projects are spearheaded by Edgar Saavedra’s CitiCore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC), a leading renewable energy (RE) company in the country.

The business community and RE advocates in the province have warmly received the news. For them, this represents another promising opportunity for the province’s recently launched six-year “SecuRE Negros” initiative, which aims for power security in Negros Island through 100% RE reliance.

For Silay City, this investment is a boon to further enhance its economic status, supporting its ambition to become a first-class city in Negros Occidental. There is simply no contest.

Food Security Thrust

What intrigued me, however, was the late Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.’ s perspective on the solar era. He once mentioned that, although solar power is beneficial, it carries a “negative implication” for the province’s critical mission to ensure food security for its residents.

According to the late governor, solar projects could potentially compromise Negros farms, posing a significant risk to both farmers and the province’s food security efforts.

In the latter part of his term, Governor Marañon became cautious about endorsing solar farm projects in the province. His insights reflect a blend of smart intuition and wisdom from an experienced leader.

Formidable Assurance

During the ground- breaking ceremony for the CitiCore solar project, I paid close attention to the speeches, hoping for insights into Governor Marañon’s concerns about solar energy.

Edgar Saavedra, in his brief yet forthright address, provided some reassurance. He stated that the land under their photovoltaic solar panels would remain arable for high-value crops (HVC) such as sweet potatoes, cabbage, eggplants, and turmeric.

This revelation was quite enlightening, prompting an “oh” of realization from me.

Saavedra further assured that farmers could continue to cultivate beneath the solar panels, with CREC offering support in marketing their products. Such a promise offers a formidable guarantee.

Wonderful Satisfaction

Yet, a promise alone was not enough for me. I delved i nto extensive online research until I discovered “wonderful satisfaction” in the concept of agrivoltaic farming, popular in Canada.

This innovative approach allows for the cultivation of crops under the protective shade of solar panels.

Not only i s this technique intriguing due to its blend of functionality and artistry, but it also represents Canada’s goal to meet its food and energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

This “eco- friendly” initiative is indeed worth emulating.

Hot as a Sun

Despite the potential benefits, the topic of solar energy remains as “hot as the sun” globally, with ongoing debates about its reliability and efficiency.

The main issue is the cost of battery storage facilities, which remains a significant hurdle for solar power advocacy amidst the push for renewable energy.

However, the prospect of clean and renewable power from solar farms is undeniable. Solar energy is a gift from the heavens, offering “pure energy” to empower us without fear.

In summary, the new solar farm in Silay, along with upcoming projects in Cadiz City and the integration of innovative farming techniques amid the rise of solar energy, casts a new hope for the people of Negros.

Acceptance is key to embracing this new era of farming beneath the “solar wings.” /