Agrivoltaics

Australian renewables company Greenwood has installed 48 solar panels at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus vineyard to aid research on how agrivoltaics affect crop yields.

The European Commission will publish guidance on agrivoltaics as part of a wider document covering innovative technologies, attendees at pv magazine Roundtables Europe 2024 heard. More than 1,300 guests joined pv magazine’s live event on Dec. 5, which covered topics ranging from quality and European manufacturing to energy storage and solar cell technology.

Scientists in the United Kingdom have simulated how a 1 GW off-grid agrivoltaic facility may be used to fuel hydrogen fuel electric cell vehicles across Australia, California, China, Nigeria, and Spain. Their techno-economic analysis showed that the proposed combination could provide a levelized cost of hydrogen ranging from $3.90/kg to $8.13/kg.

Scientists have built in India a 1.8 kW agrivoltaic setup to grow peppers under the PV modules. The proposed project design is described as an agrivoltaic insect net house that could be use for all crops that require rigorous pest management.

Voltiris has launched its latest greenhouse pilot project, installing its novel wavelength-selective PV system at a vegetable growing farm in Canton Baselland.

The Italian authorities have chosen 540 projects, totaling 1.5 GW, in the nation’s first agrivoltaics tender.

French agrivoltaics company Sun’Agri says that two of its facilities increased grape yields by 20% to 60% in 2024, compared to areas without solar panels. The PV modules helped regulate temperature fluctuations, reducing summer heat peaks and winter temperature declines.

Fraunhofer ISE researchers have investigated whether PV panels installed above orchards can affect the reception of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals and, in turn, affect the precision of advanced autonomous tools. They found a disruption and suggested some alternatives.

University of Exeter academic Aritra Ghosh tells pv magazine a multidiscipline approach is required to unlock the full potential of agrivoltaics. Discussing a new paper comparing static and tracker agrivoltaics systems in the United Kingdom, the researcher argues better understanding of microclimates under modules and how PV affects crop biochemistry is needed.

Research led by the University of Sheffield installed an off-grid agrivoltaic system in Tanzania and a grid-tied agrivoltaic system in Kenya. They found the installations helped boost crop yield and conserve water while generating electricity at a lower cost than the national grid.