An 'agrivoltaic' solution installs energy production sources on agricultural land and can be applied to various types of agriculture such as beekeeping, greenhouses, livestock farming and horticulture. For each type of agriculture, the implementation of this solution will be different in order to have the most efficient solution possible, both in terms of energy and food.
The application of an 'agrivoltaic' system to agricultural production requires that it be well thought out and correctly implemented, as it may harm the normal value of the crops produced. Shading can become a problem for agriculture, so naturally, researchers begin to test their respective effects.
For example, in Italy, an experiment was set up where 12 basil and spinach cultivation units were grown, six of which were grown in a transparent glass greenhouse and the remaining six in a photovoltaic greenhouse with semi-transparent solar panels. Both spinach and basil show the same results, a decrease in production yield. In other words, a loss of revenue for the agricultural part, but an increase in electrical production.
In Germany, ISE (Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems) and BayWa re worked together to build the first research facility for growing apples with 'agrivoltaic' solutions in Gelsdorf.
This project will last five years and will be applied to eight different types of apples, where there are four experiments to test the productivity of apples under three protection systems. These protections consist of hail protection, foil protection and fixed and tracked permeable modules to protect apples from excess sun, heavy rain and extreme temperatures.
The electricity produced by the panels is stored in the energy storage system, made up of batteries, which will serve to power the pumping system, also reducing energy consumption. carbon dioxide emissions.
'Sun' Agri, one of the leading agrivoltaic research and development companies, has established a facility in Piolenc, France, to test a vineyard, as grapes belong to the crops most affected by climate change.
The main problems with grapes when it comes to climate change are grapes of different quality due to water stress and rising sugar levels, forcing farmers to harvest their grapes earlier, before they reach maturity. The main objective of this installation is to test a vineyard growth model involving 'agrivoltaic' systems, to reduce water consumption and increase the quality and quantity of the yield produced.
The installation has the capacity to produce 84 kW, where the 280 panels are connected with an algorithm that determines the ideal inclination for energy production and also for crop protection.
The results are positive, since the vineyard is more resistant to sunlight, there is less direct lighting on the vineyard, the soil moisture value does not fluctuate much, leading to less water consumption, and the quality of the grapes is increased. due to the improvement of red pigments by 13% and 9% to 14% in acidity.
