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German Farmer Grows Fruit under Solar Power Equipment

时间:2022-10-05 22:59:14

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(单词翻译)

German Farmer Grows Fruit under Solar Power Equipment

A German farmer is successfully growing apples beneath solar power equipment that produces electricity.

It is currently1 harvest season for Christian2 Nachtwey, who operates an apple farm, or orchard3, in the western German town of Gelsdorf. A reporter from The Associated Press recently visited Nachtwey as workers loaded up red Elstar apples ready to be shipped to stores.

In addition to apples, Nachtwey's farm also produces a second harvest: electricity. Many of the farm's trees grow beneath solar panels5 that have been producing power during this year's unusually sunny summer. In addition to providing electricity, the panels protect the fruit below with shade.

Nachtwey said the idea behind the farm is simple. The design protects the trees from getting too much sun without reducing the available growing area. "On top of that, there's the solar electricity being generated7 on the same land," Nachtwey said.

Putting solar equipment on the same land as crops is becoming increasingly8 popular in Europe and North America. Farmers are finding9 that this model can make the most of their land, while establishing a second way to earn money.

But getting the right mix of crop and solar is difficult. Most fruit requires specific growing conditions. Even small changes in the environment can harm crops and cause financial losses. Even if the fruit survives, it might turn the wrong color or be less sweet and may be difficult to sell.

For this reason, Nachtwey is working with researchers to test which kinds of apples do well under a solar cover. He is also investigating which kinds of solar panels work best in the orchard. For testing purposes, Nachtwey covered some of his trees with a traditional netting material. It is normally10 used to protect sensitive crops from damaging weather events.

Juergen Zimmer is an expert with the area's agricultural services department. He told the AP that apples grown under the solar covers were a little less sweet this year than those under the nets. But almost no solar-shaded apples got damaged in the intense11 sunlight that hit the area on July 24. In the non-shaded group, about 18 percent of apples suffered sun damage that day, Zimmer said.

"We need at least two to three full years to record all the weather conditions that might occur," he added. Zimmer and Nachtwey will also need to look at crop production levels and how the solar covers affect fruit color.

Researchers hope the tests will show that fruit crops perform well under solar panels. This could help prevent renewable energy production from competing for valuable agricultural land. That competition has become an increasing concern as the need for renewable energy increases to fight climate change and rising food prices.

Nachtwey said he could use the solar electricity produced on the farm to power his own buildings and machines. But for now, he plans to provide electricity to homes in the surrounding area.

Words in This Story

solar panel4 – n. a large, flat piece of equipment that uses the sun's light or heat to create electricity

shade – n. an area of slight darkness that is produced when something blocks the light of the sun

generate6 – v. to produce

net – n. a material made of crossed threads with holes between them

renewable – adj. any naturally occurring kind of energy, such as sunlight or wind


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 currently SvMzI2     
adv.通常地,普遍地,当前
参考例句:
  • Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
  • Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。
2 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒
参考例句:
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
3 orchard UJzxu     
n.果园,果园里的全部果树,(美俚)棒球场
参考例句:
  • My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
  • Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。
4 panel l4IzD     
n.面,板,专门小组,控制板,仪表盘
参考例句:
  • The unusual control panel on the walls caught our attention.墙上不同寻常的控制板引起了我们的注意。
  • The panel of judges included several well-known writers.评判小组中包括几位知名作家。
5 panels 43e98c51bf989c94bea2f73f4eda1028     
镶板( panel的名词复数 ); 面; (门、墙等上面的)嵌板; 控制板
参考例句:
  • One of the glass panels in the front door was cracked. 前门的一块方玻璃破裂了。
  • Make sure the panels are treated with a wood preservative. 确保镶板用木材防腐剂处理过。
6 generate mgKxt     
vt.生成,产生(光、热、电等)导致
参考例句:
  • We need someone to generate new ideas.我们需要有人出新主意。
  • This book will continue to generate excitement for a long time.这本书将在很长一段时间里继续使人们为之激动。
7 generated dsozKQ     
a.生成的
参考例句:
  • It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。
  • It generated much excitement and frenetic activity. 这使人们非常激动并导致了狂热的行动。
8 increasingly z8ix8     
adv.逐渐地,日益地,逐渐增加地
参考例句:
  • Rivers are being increasingly made use of by man. 河流正在日益为人类所利用。
  • I find it increasingly difficult to live within my income.我发现靠收入过日子越来越难了。
9 finding 5tAzVe     
n.发现,发现物;调查的结果
参考例句:
  • The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
  • That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。
10 normally ln8zVb     
adv.正常地,通常地
参考例句:
  • I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
  • My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。
11 intense G5axf     
adj.认真的,专注的;强烈的;紧张的;热情的
参考例句:
  • Susan was an intense young lady.苏珊是一个热情的年轻姑娘。
  • The quarrel caused her intense unhappiness.争吵令她极其不快。

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