Agrivoltaics: Farming Under a Solar Power System

Photovoltaic (PV) panels turn sunlight into electricity with the help of Fronius grid tie inverters. This combination of various equipment gives homes and businesses electric power to run appliances and operations during the night. But, recent studies have shown that this technology is beneficial to agriculture.

Grown In the Shade

A team of professors and students - both undergrad and graduate - have created the first agrivoltaics (AV) research at Biosphere 2 in Arizona. AV is the process of farming crops under PV panels, which are said to boost water savings and the efficiency of food and electricity production.

The group measured everything, from when the plants germinated to the amount of carbon the greens were absorbing. They also monitored how much moisture the crops released and the food they produced throughout the entire growing season.

Their study focused on jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, and chiltepin peppers under a solar array. And, they found that the AV system significantly affected three factors in the blooming and reproduction periods - direct sunlight, air temperature, and atmospheric demand for H2O. The shade the panels provided resulted in a lower vapor deficit (moisture in the air) and cooler days and warmer nights than the traditional, open-sky planting method.

Better for PV

Aside from the advantages to the plants, the team also found that AV increased the efficiency of PV modules. Solar arrays are fairly sensitive to temperature - as it gets warm, the level of energy production drops. The group saw that farming crops underneath the panels reduced the chances of overheating. This was due to the greens emitting liquids through a natural process called transpiration.

It's an all-win in terms of improving the ways people grow food, utilize precious water resources, and produce renewable electric energy.

Co-Locating Crop and Solar Production

Agrivoltaics speaks a lot of better things for farmers and solar energy developers.

To the latter, this may indicate a rise in PV performance, improving efficiency in greeneries. It may also translate to upfront risk reduction, where the increase in testing needs can drive up the demand for installing solar modules. This is especially useful to previously cultivated land, which holds the most potential for growth according to a series of surveys with manufacturers.

And, to the former, this may mean less electrical expenses while having greater ability to produce high-value and shade-resistant crops for new potential markets. This also allows for more revenue streams and marketing opportunities to those interested in sustainable energy.

In recent years, the number of farms and other agricultural businesses powered by solar systems has spiked significantly. If you want the same for your enterprise, get in touch with a trusted manufacturer now. Don't forget to put the Fronius grid tie inverter on your list of inquiries.

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