Application of Photovoltaic Systems for Agriculture: A Study on the Relationship between Power Generation and Farming for the Improvement of Photovoltaic Applications in Agriculture

Abstract

Agrivoltaic (agriculture–photovoltaic) or solar sharing has gained growing recognition as a promising means of integrating agriculture and solar-energy harvesting. Although this field offers great potential, data on the impact on crop growth and development are insufficient. As such, this study examines the impact of agriculture–photovoltaic farming on crops using energy information and communications technology (ICT). The researched crops were grapes, cultivated land was divided into six sections, photovoltaic panels were installed in three test areas, and not installed in the other three. A 1300 × 520 mm photovoltaic module was installed on a screen that was designed with a shading rate of 30%. In addition, to collect farming-cultivation-environment data and to analyze power generation, sensors for growing environments and wireless-communication devices were used. As a result, normal modules generated 25.2 MWh, bifacial modules generated 21.6 MWh, and transparent modules generated 25.7 MWh over a five-month period. We could not find a difference in grape growth according to the difference of each module. However, a slight slowing of grape growth was found in the experiment group compared to the control group. Nevertheless, the sugar content of the test area of the grape fruit in the harvest season was 17.6 Brix on average, and the sugar content of the control area was measured at 17.2 Brix. Grape sugar-content level was shown to be at almost the same level as that in the control group by delaying the harvest time by about 10 days. In conclusion, this study shows that it is possible to produce renewable energy without any meaningful negative impact on normal grape farming.

Agrivoltaic Systems Design and Assessment: A Critical Review, and a Descriptive Model towards a Sustainable Landscape Vision (Three-Dimensional Agrivoltaic Patterns)

“…Bulgari et al [146] also found a lower content of quality parameters for tomatoes with a configuration of 50% PV coverage besides lower yield by the high PV percentage coverage. Cho et al [147] detected lower weight and sugar content in grapes cultivated in Korea than those of the control group, delaying the harvest time about 10 days, and the sugar-content level present almost the same level as that of the control site. Conversely, some species including strawberry show good response in terms of quality (with higher chlorophyll content) and yield in comparison to unshaded treatment [55].…”

Türkiye’de 50MW Üstü GES Üretimi Gerçekleştiren Şehirlerimizde Agrivoltaic Sistem Kullanılabilirliğinin İncelenmesi

“…Çalışmanın sonucunda panel verimliliklerinde ve ürünlerde dikkate değer bir farklılık gözlemlenmemiş, ancak test grupları altında yetişen üzümlerin gelişim süreçleri biraz uzamıştır. Üzümlerin içerdikleri şeker oranlarında da az miktarda değişim söz konusu olmuştur (Cho et al, 2020). Santra ve arkadaşları tarafından gerçekleştirilen bir başka çalışmada 0.5MW'lık elektrik üretim tesisinde, panellerin temizlenmesi için gerekli olan su miktarının 20.000 litre kadar olduğu bahsedilmiş ve panel altında yetiştirilmeye çalışılan tarım ürünlerinin bu temizlik amacı ile kullanılan sudan yararlanabileceği belirtilmiştir.…”

“…Şekil 1. Agrivoltaic sistemin genel yapısı(Dos Santos, 2020) Agrivoltaic sistemlerde kullanılabilecek üç çeşit panel tipi vardır (Cho et al, 2020). Birincisi normal PV panelleri, Monokristal, Polikristal, İnce Film Güneş Panelleri, vb.…”

Solar Energy Applications in Agriculture with Special Reference to North Western Himalayan Region

“…The electricity thus generated can be used to meet the farm needs and the surplus power can be sold. Crop cultivation and renewable energy production is possible and efficient wherein solar power can be generated in a crop production system like grapes [31].…”