A good year for solar: Agrivoltaics in vineyards
From pv magazine France.
“Vines are among the crops most affected by the effects of climate change so it is essential that they be at the heart of our experiments,” a spokesperson from the Sun’Agri subsidiary of French solar developer Sun’R, told pv magazine. We’ll drink to that!
Sun’Agri has installed a viticulture agrivoltaic system in the Vaucluse department of southeastern France in partnership with the local chamber of agriculture as part of the Sun’Agri 3 program supported by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe).
The plant was set up in the wine-growing area in Piolenc, in Hérault, as part of a program to test how agrivoltaics perform in specific crop cultures.
“Out of 1,000m² of vines planted with [the] black grenache [red wine grape], 600m² were covered by our dynamic agrivoltaic system,” the Sun’Agri spokesperson said. The 280 panels used have a generation capacity of 84 kW, were placed at a height of 4.2m and can be moved in real time using an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm the French agrivoltaic specialist has been developing for more than a decade.
The algorithm is said to be able to determine the ideal tilt of the panels according to the sunshine and water requirements of viticulture, growth model of the crop, soil quality and weather conditions. “Artificial intelligence is programmed to favor the growth of the plant,” said the Sun’Agri representative. “In the event of extreme climatic hazards – drought, heatwave, hail, frost, heavy rain etc – the AI controls the panels to protect the crops.”
Initial results
The PV structure made it possible for the vines sheltered by panels to avoid having their growth stunted during heatwaves, according to Sun’Agri.
Water demand was also reduced by 12-34% for the PV-sheltered vines thanks to a reduction in evapotranspiration – water evaporating through the soil, said the Sun’Agri spokesperson. It has also been claimed the aromatic profile of the grape was improved in the agrivoltaic set-up, with 13% more anthocyanins – red pigments – and 9-14% more acidity.
The Sun’Agri 3 program is due to pass from its demonstration to a commercial phase in 2022 and also includes agrivoltaic projects linked to arboriculture, greenhouse gardening and arable crops across 15 installations.
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[…] Sun’Agri has installed a viticulture agrivoltaic system in the Vaucluse department of southeastern France in partnership with the local chamber of agriculture as part of the Sun’Agri 3 program supported by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency. The goal was to see how agrivoltaics perform in specific crop cultures. “Out of 1,000m² of vines planted with [the] black grenache [red wine grape], 600m² were covered by our dynamic agrivoltaic system,” the Sun’Agri spokesperson said. The 280 panels used have a generation capacity of 84 kW, were placed at a height of 4.2m and can be moved in real time using an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm the French agrivoltaic specialist has been developing for more than a decade. […]
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Agrivoltaic, or agrienergy is the rightnow future of agriculture worldwide. I think that europe still does not enough assess the essence of agrivoltaic (agrienergy). The essence of agrivoltaic is that PEOPLE MUST USE ENTIRELY PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS INSTEAD OF PLANT LEAVES TO HARVEST SOLAR ENERGY IN FIELDS, THEN USE LED LAMPS TO ILLUMINATE CROPS WITHOUT ANY DIRECT NATURAL SUN LIGHT. It is because that photovoltaic panels can much better absorb solar than plant leaves can. For crop in agrivoltaic model, people should not use direct sun beam, but should use LED lamps. Besides, in agrivoltaic model, people should not grow crop in natural soils, but should grow crop in bottles under LED lamps under entirely photovoltaic rooftops, so that maximum harvest solar energy and maximum not depend on climate. Of course, LED lamps for crop are powered from photovoltaic rooftops. Excess energy of photovoltaic rooftops is connected to grids and than to hydrogen production factories. Typical products of agrivoltaic are FOOD + HYDROGEN+ELECTRICITY. The crucial infrastructure of agrivoltaic is the networks of hydrogen production factories. Governments and corporations must analyse territories to predict possible renewable energy sources to build network of hydrogen production factories, so that any renewable energy stations and agrivoltaic farms can connect to nearest hydrogen production factories.
The europe and other countries, especially USA, Australia, Brazil, latinamerican countries and other tropical countries MUST QUICKLY CONVERT ALL CROP FIELDS INTO AGRIVOLTAIC FARMS TO HARVEST FOOD+HYDROGEN+ELECTRICITY. If convert all crop fields into agrivoltaic farms, then it can supply more than enough electricity+hydrogen+foods for the world. Once again, i repeat that agrivoltaic farms must in tandem with network of hydrogen production factories. It is possible to create agrivoltaic farms in deserts, for example in africa or Sahara desert. The europe convert all its crop fields into agrivoltaic farms, as most of most priority strategy, because it will the europe to less depend on gas oil suppliers.
Thanks ‘Abstract Exchange’ for attempting to lighten the gloom. However, it’s now April 2…
I am so thrilled to see solar power used this way. I will not see it go to market in 2022 , my age prohibits that. For years I have wanted humankind to wake up to this gift from the sun, wind and water. Thank you for your hard work, keep up the fight!
Although PV panels on the surface, excuse the pun appear to be a solution for energy and secondary shading in viitculure as opposed to cover systems now employed in parts of France they do come with several drawbacks.
Looking at the supply chain it is clear that the polysilicone wafers used are primarily sourced from China, whom have been associated with forced labor practices, it is estimated that 97% of all wafers have direct or indirect links to this practice.
Cost of energy storage if reverting to a battery systsem plus of course the reservations about using lithium cells, if direct grid payment then less of a headache.
Finally end of life disposal, currently panels that are beign removed find their way into landfill, cheaper to grind up than recycle releasing all manner of chemicals as they breakdown.