Solar farms are growing more and more common throughout the Southeast. By producing green energy for their areas, solar farms help in the long term effort of protecting the environment. However, these solar plants can be at risk of damage due to soil erosion, which has caused plant operators to find solutions in order to protect the machinery. Let’s take a closer look at the issue.
The Erosion Problem for Solar Farms
One of the biggest problems that solar farms face in their day-to-day operation is weather. When weather doesn’t cooperate, solar farms are less efficient with their energy harnessing. However, there can also be a bigger problem when the rain begins to fall. Heavy rainfall and powerful winds can become agents of erosion rapidly under the right conditions. For solar farms, erosion threatens the structural integrity of the facility. This can in turn lead to costly repairs that require extensive investments of time and money for solar plant managers.
The Erosion Solution for Solar Farms
Because of the threat erosion poses to solar farms, erosion control is essential. One of the most commonly used methods of controlling erosion for solar farms is hydroseeding. Hydroseeding is commonly used on solar farms because of multiple factors, including effectiveness, quick application, and cost efficiency. By helping control erosion, hydroseeding helps secure the structural integrity and longevity of the solar farm itself. It can be an invaluable tool for solar farms, helping protect the equipment and mitigating the risk of damage from heavy rains and wind.
How Hydroseeding Controls Erosion on Solar Farms
When it comes to erosion, hydroseeding is an effective solution for a number of reasons. Bare soil is prone to erode under heavy winds and rain, oftentimes taking away massive amounts of soil as storm runoff washes layers of topsoil away, or heavy winds blow loose soil far from its original location. To combat these potential scenarios, hydroseeding quickly establishes a network of healthy grass roots that serve as an adhesive to hold soil together, preventing it from eroding so easily.
The hydroseeding process is simple. It involves spraying the hydroseeding slurry over the designated area. The hydroseeding slurry is a mixture of native grass seeds, fertilizer, and water that is mixed and deployed from specialty hydroseeding equipment that sprays the slurry across the soil. Once applied, the slurry quickly gets to work. After taking root, the grass seeds can quickly sprout and continue developing the underground network of roots that holds the soil together. The field of grass that grows over the area of soil enables it to better absorb rain water without being washed away. It also, in turn, provides a beautiful layer of lush green grass.
This is obviously very important for solar farms. With the erosion control capabilities of hydroseeding, the solar farm equipment embedded into the ground of the field is much more secure, and better protected from shifts and erosion of the soil it is planted in.
Hydroseeding for Solar Farms with Burns Environmental
Burns Environmental is Alabama’s hydroseeding specialist. Also serving West Georgia, Burns has many years of experience with commercial and residential hydroseeding for erosion control and healthy grass growth. Our experienced and professional team brings the expertise you need for protecting your solar farm. If you are looking for an erosion control solution for a solar farm in Alabama or Georgia, contact us today to learn more about our hydroseeding services.
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