Overhead vs. vertical agrivoltaics
A survey conducted by Dutch researchers has compared the visual impact of overhead and vertical agrivoltaics farms on nearby residents and has found that vertical arrays look less invasive.
Research finds agrivoltaics have payback time of less than five years in Portugal
A group of researchers from the University of Lisboa and the Military Academy reported on the viability of agrivoltaics in Portugal. It found that spaced rows of PV modules combined with shadow-friendly crops had the most promising return and a payback period of less than five years.
Agrivoltaic system achieves 9.9% efficiency, LCOE of $0.033/kWh
Researchers in China have built a prototype of a spectral-splitting concentrator agrivoltaic system (SCAPV) with a PV efficiency of 9.9, a hybrid light-use efficiency rating of 9.05%, and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $0.033/kWh.
India Agrivoltaics Alliance launched
The National Solar Energy Federation of India will serve as the secretariat of the India Agrivoltaics Alliance (IAA). The Alliance comprises 12 organizations and is supported by the India Climate Collaborative and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Vertical agrivoltaics to reduce PV curtailment, increase water efficiency
An international research group has analyzed a vertical bifacial agrivoltaics system in a drought-stricken part of Chile. They say that the solar array can improve water efficiency for crop irrigation, while the vertical system configuration optimizes PV power generation throughout the day, minimizing curtailment.
Agrivoltaics can mitigate effects of drought
A new study by the University of Hohenheim shows that shading from PV systems can improve agricultural yields, especially in dry periods, but additional research is needed.
Agrivoltaics in India: Challenges and opportunities for scale-up
A new study assesses agrivoltaics development in India and identifies the challenges and opportunities for commercializing these projects.
Agrivoltaics market valued at $9.3 billion
The global agrivoltaics market is pegged at a 10.1% annual growth rate, according to a research note by Allied Analytics.
Agrivoltaics for arable crops
French developer TSE has commissioned its first agrivoltaic pilot project in northeastern France. The 2.4 MW installation spans 3 hectares and is installed on arable land devoted to the cultivation of soya, wheat, rye, barley, and rapeseed.
The long read: Farming the southern sun
Sunfarming is taking the lead when it comes to agriPV project development and investment in Germany. And in South Africa, Sunfarming’s Food and Energy and the Food Education Energy Development (FEED) program has developed two unique concepts through which it can share its agriPV expertise. pv magazine sat down with Sunfarming director of international projects, Edith Brasche, to talk about the company’s South African projects.
