Solar Rooftops and Ginseng: A Shady Deal

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Solar installations can be shady deals — and this is a good thing.

Utilizing shade created by solar panels can reduce air conditioner costs and create ideal growing grounds for shade-loving ginseng. (Yes, that ginseng you swallow as part of your daily herbal regiment).

Hanwha Solar is providing 7.7 megawatts of an 8.7-megawatt installation on a building owned by Solvéo Energie in Rion-des-Landes, France. This nine-hectare rooftop solar project of 36,900 panels fosters just the environment needed for the four-year growing period ginseng roots need before harvesting. And every year those shade-giving panels will produce 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

Who knew a shady deal could be so mutually beneficial?

Source: Business Wire
Image: Ginseng via Shutterstock