Agrivoltaic

Agrivoltaics is co-developing the same area of land for both solar photovoltaic power as well as for conventional agriculture. This technique was originally conceived by French agricultural scientist Christian Dupraz. [1] Simulations and studies on Agrivoltaics indicate electricity and shade-resistant crop production do not decrease in productivity, allowing both to be simultaneously produced efficiently.

Methods

There are three types of Agrivoltaics that are being actively researched: solar arrays with space between for crops, stilted solar array above crops and greenhouse solar array. [2] All three of these systems have several variables used to maximize solar energy absorbed in both the panels and the crops. The main variable taken into account for agrivoltaic systems is the angle of the solar panels-called the tilt angle. Other variables taken into account for choosing the location of the agrivoltaic system are the crops chosen, height of the panels, solar irradiation in the area and climate of the area. [2]

Effects

The solar panels of Agrivoltaics affects crops and land they cover in ways more than providing shade. Two ways are affecting water flow and heat.

Water Flow

In experiments testing evaporation levels under PVP for shade resistant crops cucumbers and lettuce watered by irrigation, a 14-29% savings in evaporation was found. [3] Agrivoltaics could be used for crops or areas where water efficiency is imperative. [3]

Heat

A study was done on the heat of the land, air and crops under solar panels for a growing season. It was found that while the air beneath the panels stayed consistent, the land and plants had lower temperatures recorded. [4]

Advantages

Dinesh et. al. found lettuce output was found to be comparable in Agrivoltaics to monocultures. Agrivoltaics work best for plants that are shade resistant, with potential functioning crops being "hog peanut, alfalfa, yam, taro, cassava, sweet potato" along with lettuce. [2] Simulations performed by Dupraz et. al. found the potential of land productivity to increase by 60-70%.[1] Furthermore, Dinesh et. al. found that the value of solar generated electricity coupled to shade-tolerant crop production created an over 30% increase in economic value from farms deploying agrivoltaic systems instead of conventional agriculture.[2] It has been postulated that Agrivoltaics would be beneficial for summer crops for the microclimate they create and the side effect of heat and water flow control. [5]

Disadvantages

Shade resistant crops are not typically grown in industrial agricultural systems.[2] For instance, wheat crops do not fair well in a low light environment, meaning they would not work with Agrivoltaics.[2] Agrivoltaics do not yet work with greenhouses. Greenhouses with half of the roof covered in panels were simulated, and the resulting crop output reduced by 64% and panel productivity reduced by 84%. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 Dupraz, C.; Marrou, H.; Talbot, G.; Dufour, L.; Nogier, A.; Ferard, Y. (2011-10-01). "Combining solar photovoltaic panels and food crops for optimising land use: Towards new agrivoltaic schemes". Renewable Energy. Renewable Energy: Generation & Application. 36 (10): 2725–2732. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.005.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Harshavardhan Dinesh, Joshua M. Pearce, The potential of agrivoltaic systems, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 54, 299-308 (2016).
  3. 1 2 Marrou, H.; Dufour, L.; Wery, J. "How does a shelter of solar panels influence water flows in a soil–crop system?". European Journal of Agronomy. 50: 38–51. doi:10.1016/j.eja.2013.05.004.
  4. ↑ Marrou, H.; Guilioni, L.; Dufour, L.; Dupraz, C.; Wery, J. "Microclimate under agrivoltaic systems: Is crop growth rate affected in the partial shade of solar panels?". Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 177: 117–132. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.04.012.
  5. ↑ Dupraz, C. "To mix or not to mix : evidences for the unexpected high productivity of new complex agrivoltaic and agroforestry systems." (PDF). Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  6. ↑ Castellano, Sergio (2014-12-21). "Photovoltaic greenhouses: evaluation of shading effect and its influence on agricultural performances". Journal of Agricultural Engineering. 45 (4): 168–175. ISSN 2239-6268. doi:10.4081/jae.2014.433.


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