Estimating cultivable land at photovoltaic websites for dual-purpose use
by Hugo Ritmico
Madrid, Spain (SPX) Could 02, 2024
Researchers on the College of Cordoba have developed a brand new mannequin to calculate the cultivable area inside photo voltaic farms geared up with two-axis photovoltaic modules, aiming to facilitate the transition to agrivoltaic techniques the place agriculture and photo voltaic vitality manufacturing coexist.
In Alcarras de Carla Simon, the Sole household is reconsidering their underperforming peach plantation because of the encroachment of photo voltaic panels. This displays the broader debate on balancing land use for renewable vitality and agriculture, a subject that has gained traction in each cultural narratives and scientific analysis.
The idea of agrivoltaics includes the simultaneous use of land for each agriculture and photo voltaic photovoltaic vitality technology. The TEP215 – Physics for Renewable Energies analysis group on the college is advocating for the adoption of agrivoltaic techniques. Their newest challenge features a methodology to find out potential agricultural areas between photo voltaic collectors at current installations.
“On this work, we selected a sort of photovoltaic set up that already existed to see whether or not we might redirect it and combine crops for agricultural manufacturing into these current amenities,” defined Rafael Lopez, a Professor of Utilized Physics.
The methodology is grounded in theoretical simulations of photo voltaic astronomy and the spatial geometry of photo voltaic farms with two-axis panels, which pivot to observe the solar like sunflowers, optimizing vitality seize. It identifies potential planting areas with out obstructing the panels or casting shadows, thereby preserving photo voltaic effectivity.
Luis Manuel Fernandez, a researcher within the Division of Electrical and Automated Engineering, highlighted that the mannequin incorporates backtracking to keep away from shadow casting amongst panels all through their every day motion.
At a particular website in Cordoba named “El Molino,” geared up with two-axis trackers and backtracking, the mannequin demonstrated that 74% of the land between the panels can assist crops no taller than 1.4 meters.
This adaptable mannequin may very well be utilized to different websites to discover agrivoltaic potential, selling sustainable practices and profitability in each sectors, as famous by Rafael Lopez.
“This work represents an advance within the potential conversion and agrivoltaic use of current massive photovoltaic vegetation, bettering their sustainability, contributing to the required deployment of agrivoltaics, and advancing the struggle towards local weather change,” the researchers acknowledged.
The twin system advantages crops by means of the shade supplied by the panels, which is especially precious in harsh climates by serving to to keep up soil moisture.
Future steps embody establishing related laws and conducting subject trials with varied crops to implement this land use technique extra broadly.
Associated Hyperlinks
College of Cordoba
All About Photo voltaic Power at SolarDaily.com
