How can solar power benefit medicinal plants growers?
As recreational and medicinal plants use becomes increasingly legal and destigmatized worldwide, many growers of medicinal plants are prioritizing ways to make their operations more efficient.
Large-scale indoor cultivation puts a tremendous strain on the energy grid, requiring power-hungry equipment such as indoor lighting, irrigation, fans, humidifiers and more, often running around the clock. Medicinal plants growers have markedly higher electricity needs than standard homes and businesses. For example, the light intensity in some indoor facilities is similar to hospital operating rooms, which are 500 times greater than recommended reading light levels.
Solar panels, therefore, can be a valuable investment for medicinal plants growers. Though solar energy can represent a significant upfront investment for your business, it can pay for itself in both the short-term
and the long run by allowing you to reduce or even eliminate some of your energy consumption.
In general, the more energy you use, the more you can expect to benefit from switching to solar. The most important question is obviously how much your medicinal plants growing facility consumes in KWh per year. In order to determine that you need to take a close look at your hydro bill, or (if you are a new business) carefully estimate your individual energy loads: lighting, irrigation, fans, humidifiers, etc. Based on this information you could choose the right solar power system and pick the right equipment. As with any investment this significant, doing your homework and weighing the pros and cons of various manufacturers or installers can help you save hundreds of dollars. Different governments or municipalities may also provide rebates or subsidies that can help reduce your initial cost.
