Enovoltaics: Symbiotic integration of photovoltaics in vineyards

Padilla, Javier; Toledo, Carlos; Abad, José Antonio

doi:10.3389/fenrg.2022.1007383

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Another investigation in Xinjiang, China, showed minimal or no change in the yield of grapes under agrivoltaics [71]. The land equivalent ratio of integrating PV with grape farms was found to be between 1.27-1.50, thus confirming economic viability of the system [72]. No significant difference in the growth pattern of vines was observed under agrivoltaics [73].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 88%

Solar photovoltaic wood racking mechanical design for trellis-based agrivoltaics

Jamil,

Vandewetering,

Pearce

2023

PLoS ONE

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Using a trellis to plant vegetables and fruits can double or triple the yield per acre as well as reduce diseases/pests, ease harvesting and make cleaner produce. Cultivars such as cucumbers, grapes, kiwi, melons, peas, passion fruit, pole beans, pumpkins, strawberries, squash, and tomatoes are all grown with trellises. Many of these cultivars showed increased yield with partial shading with semi-transparent solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. To further increase the efficiency of trellis-based growing systems, this study investigates novel low-cost, open-source, sustainable, wood-based PV racking designs for agrivoltaic applications. Design calculations are made to ensure these racks exceed Canadian building code standards, which with snow loads surpass those of most of the world. A complete bill of materials, fabrication instructions, and proof-of-concept prototypes are provided for three system topographies (sloped, T-shaped and inverse Y) along with economic analysis. In addition, to being cost competitive, the designs can act as trellis supports and be used for irrigation/fertigation purposes. The results indicate that these racking structures have enormous promise both agriculturally and energetically. If employed on only grape farms inside Canada, 10 GW of PV potential is made available, which is more than twice the total current installed PV in Canada.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 88%

Solar photovoltaic wood racking mechanical design for trellis-based agrivoltaics

Jamil,

Vandewetering,

Pearce

2023

PLoS ONE

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“…Sharing solar resources to produce food and energy simultaneously means that the design of the PV system cannot always follow a standard approach of orienting panels to optimize energy production, and that system design may conflict with optimized food production [26,29]. Therefore, the system must be adapted to the local climate, crop type, or land shape [30].…”

Section: Use Of Solar Energy In the Agricultural Sectormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[36,37] proposed PV panels in the interspace between vineyard rows. On the other hand, a vertical integration of photovoltaic surfaces over the vines is proposed using the same trellis structure, therefore minimizing cost and land building [30]. The authors have tried to avoid the negative impact of shading on grapevine yield and quality.…”

Section: Viticulturementioning

confidence: 99%

Agrivoltaics and Aquavoltaics: Potential of Solar Energy Use in Agriculture and Freshwater Aquaculture in Croatia

Matulić,

Andabaka,

Radman

et al. 2023

Agriculture

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Agrivoltaics and aquavoltaics combine renewable energy production with agriculture and aquaculture. Agrivoltaics involves placing solar panels on farmland, while aquavoltaics integrates photovoltaic systems with water bodies and aquaculture. This paper examines the benefits and challenges of agrivoltaics and aquavoltaics, focusing on their potential for Croatian agriculture and freshwater aquaculture. Benefits include dual land use, which allows farmers to produce clean energy while maintaining agricultural practices. They diversify renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar panels in agrivoltaics provide shade, protect crops, reduce water needs, and increase yields. Challenges include high initial costs and limited accessibility, especially for small farmers. Integration with existing systems requires careful planning, considering irrigation, soil moisture, and crop or fish production. Maintenance and cleaning present additional challenges due to dust, debris, and algae. Policy and regulatory frameworks must support implementation, including incentives, grid integration, land use regulations, and conservation. The location, resources, and crops grown in Croatia present an opportunity for agrivoltaics and aquavoltaics, considering cultivation methods, species, and regulatory requirements.

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“…Early explorations of crop responses to AV focused on leafy vegetables and field crops (Weselek et al ., 2019). Other research focused on crops in areas with Mediterranean climates or grapevine production in areas where the higher levels of irradiance may cause undesirable fruit sugar levels (Padilla et al ., 2022). However, it remains largely unclear how AV systems can benefit perennial crop systems, particularly in temperate regions susceptible to variable weather conditions, with limited irradiance and other climatic challenges.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pear (Pyrus communisL. cv. Conference) has shade-tolerant features allowing for consistent agrivoltaic crop yield

Reher,

Willockx,

Schenk

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Transitioning to a fossil fuel free society requires an increase in solar energy production. However, expanding solar power to farmland competes with food production. Additionally, climate change threatens food security and leads increasingly to yield losses. Agrivoltaics (AV) systems produce solar energy and food on the same field, while sheltering crops. In AV systems, crops grow in a modified environment with reduced solar irradiance, a tempered microclimate and a potential physical cover protecting against hail damage. This research describes pear production under an AV pilot with 24% light reduction for 3 consecutive seasons. AV pear trees yielded 14% less than the reference. Flowering and fruit set was unchanged while AV reduced leaf flavonoid levels. The leaf photosynthetic light response was identical, yet a delayed leaf senescence under AV suggests an adaptation to the modified environment. AV impacted fruit shape, as there was an increase in the number of bottle shaped pears and a reduction in caliber. Other fruit quality traits were broadly unaffected, yet postharvest ethylene production was higher for AV fruit in 2022 than for the control. This study demonstrates that AV systems hold potential for pear production under temperate climates and highlights plant adaptations that make this possible.

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Enovoltaics: Symbiotic integration of photovoltaics in vineyards

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Solar photovoltaic wood racking mechanical design for trellis-based agrivoltaics

Solar photovoltaic wood racking mechanical design for trellis-based agrivoltaics

Agrivoltaics and Aquavoltaics: Potential of Solar Energy Use in Agriculture and Freshwater Aquaculture in Croatia

Pear (Pyrus communisL. cv. Conference) has shade-tolerant features allowing for consistent agrivoltaic crop yield

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