Agrivoltaics

Likewise, some conceive agrivoltaics so broadly as to include the mere installation of solar panels on the roofs of barns or livestock sheds.

Other variables taken into account for choosing the location of the agrivoltaic system are the crops chosen, panel heights, solar irradiance and climate of the area.

[13] Simulation results show that the row distance between bifacial photovoltaic module structures significantly affects the photosynthetically active radiation distribution.

[14] Open-source vertical wood-based PV racking has been designed for farms[15] that is (i) constructed from locally accessible (domestic) renewable and sustainable materials, (ii) able to be made with hand tools by the average farmer on site, (iii) possesses a 25-year lifetime to match PV warranties, and (iv) is structurally sound, following Canadian building codes to weather high wind speeds and heavy snow loads.

[16][17] The simplest and earliest system was built in Japan using a rather flimsy set of panels mounted on thin pipes on stands without concrete footings.

[23] In 2015 Wen Liu from the University of Science and Technology in Hefei, China, proposed a new agrivoltaic concept: curved glass panels covered with a dichroitic polymer film that selectively transmits blue and red wavelengths which are necessary for photosynthesis.

[26][27] "Semi-transparent" PV panels used in agrivoltaics increase the spacing between solar cells and use clear backsheets enhancing food production below.

In countries with low or unsteady precipitation, high temperature fluctuation and fewer opportunities for artificial irrigation, such systems are expected to beneficially affect the quality of the microclimate.

[5] Initial simulations performed by Dupraz et al. in 2011, where the word 'agrivoltaics' was first coined, calculated that the land use efficiency may increase by 60–70% (mostly in terms of usage of solar irradiance).

[2][39] The central socio-political opportunities of agrivoltaics include income diversification for farmers, enhanced community relations and acceptance for PV developers, and energy demand and emissions reduction for the global population.

[42] Dinesh et al.'s model claims 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.

[36][58] Although some crops in some situations, such as lettuce in California, do not appear to be affected by shading in terms of yield,[2][57] some land will be sacrificed for mounting structures and systems equipment.

[59][obsolete source] A study identified barriers to adoption of agrivoltaics among farmers that include (i) desired certainty of long-term land productivity, (ii) market potential, (iii) just compensation and (iv) a need for predesigned system flexibility to accommodate different scales, types of operations, and changing farming practices.

[36] Photovoltaic systems are technologically complex, meaning farmers will be unable to fix some things that may break down or be damaged, and requiring a sufficient pool of professionals.

Recognising this, Akira Nagashima also suggested combining photovoltaic (PV) systems and farming to use the excess light, and developed the first prototypes in Japan in 2004.

[67] A second pilot project was installed in 2021, which trials arable cultures in a crop rotation, comparing a static bifacial and a single axis tracked system.

This 22 hectare, 9 MWp system, built and operated by the company oEnergy, grows a variety of cherry species in twin rows between arrays of 2P single-axis trackers.

[83] In 2023 the university estimated Europe could host 51 TW of agrivoltaic capacity, generating 71,500 TWh of electricity per year (25 times higher than current power demand).

[89] After a first prototype built in 2017 in Aix-en-Provence, Agrivolta deployed its system on a plot of the National Research Institute of Horticulture (Astredhor) in Hyères.

A first prototype of 194.4 kWp was to be built in 2016 from Hilber Solar (today AgroSolar Europe)[93] on a 0.5 ha site belonging to the Hofgemeinschaft Heggelbach cooperative farm in Herdwangen.

This study claimed that the system could increase the revenue (not profit) of Indian farmers in one specific area by 1500% (ignoring investment costs).

According to a study conducted by ENEA and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the economic and environmental performances of agrivoltaic systems are similar to those of ground photovoltaic plants.

For ENEA, 0.32% of Italian agricultural fields are to be covered by photovoltaic systems in order to reach 50% of the objectives of the national energy plan.

[115] To obtain permission to exploit solar panels over crops, Japanese law requires farmers to maintain at least 80% of agricultural production.

[citation needed] The Universiti Putra Malaysia, which specializes in agronomy, launched experiments in 2015 on plantations of Orthosiphon stamineus, a medicinal herb often called Java tea in English.

In,[3] a study is presented and has concluded that combining agriculture with photovoltaic systems can be very beneficial from energy production and a financial point of view.

Kim Chang-han, executive secretariat of the Korea Agrivoltaic Association, claims that the problems in the industry are caused by "Fake News".

[117] The German Fraunhofer Institute claimed in 2021 that the South Korean government is planning to build 100,000 agrivoltaic systems on farms as a retirement provision for farmers.

Several types of crops are studied: alfalfa, sorghum, lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, chard, radishes, potatoes, arugula, mint, turnips, kale, parsley, coriander, beans, peas, shallots and mustard.

[125] Shell subsidiary Savion received approval in 2024 for its 6,050-acre, $1 billion, 800-megawatt Oak Run Solar Project in Madison County, Ohio.