A research team from Spain and Italy have recently conducted a study on the impact of different system configurations for bifacial agrivoltaic system arrays deployed in olive groves. The team discovered that the tilt angle of the solar modules greatly affects the power yield, while the height of the modules plays a crucial role in increasing agricultural yield. The study tested various system configurations using software simulation and the raytracing approach to accurately model how light interacts with objects.
The findings of this study are significant for farmers and renewable energy companies who are looking to integrate solar energy into their agricultural operations. By optimising the design and placement of solar modules, farmers can maximise their power yield while improving crop growth and yield at the same time.
In their simulation, the tree trunks have a radius of 0.25 m and a height of 1 m, while the crown has a radius of 1 m and a height of 1.5 m. The total height is considered to be 2.5 m, which represents the average height of olive trees in this cultivation approach. The bifacial models were assumed to have a size of 1.755 m x 1.038 m and to be placed on hubs with a minimum height of 3 m to ensure the movement of harvesting machines.
The temperature was set to 21 C and the humidity was 40%, with the simulation assuming 16 hours of light per day. To calculate the yield of the olive trees, the response of gross carbon assimilation to absorbed light was assessed. That indicates the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis in olive trees, which shows how well they convert light energy into chemical energy.
Each setup was measured with tilt angles of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 90 degrees, and hub heights of 3 m, 3.5 m, 4 m, and 4.5 m. The three olive varieties were chosen due to their different light responses, as they prevail in various geographical areas. Picual olives are predominantly found in Jaén, Manzanilla olives are endemic to Spain's Seville, and Chemlali olives can be found in various Mediterranean countries, particularly Tunisia.
Peak land equivalent ratio (LER), which quantifies the land productivity of the combined energy and crop outputs, was 171% of what each system would produce individually if implemented separately in the same area. It was achieved at a tilt angle of 20 degrees and 3 m. The lowest LER was achieved at 90 degrees, at a height of 4 m.
The use of agrivoltaic systems is gaining popularity in the renewable energy sector due to their potential to enhance both sustainable energy production and agricultural productivity. By incorporating solar panels into farming operations, farmers can produce renewable energy without sacrificing valuable land that could be used for crop production.
