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Combining solar generation with farming and land use in the same space offers a diverse spectrum of applications in the country, as the climatic zones and agricultural practices are also diverse, explained Fraunhofern ISE expert Oliver Hörnle to pv magazine Brazil . In Brazil, technology can be an ally in adapting to droughts.
Agrovoltaic installations, a relatively new approach in the global solar sector, can bring several benefits to energy production and agricultural output. But these opportunities need to be tested and validated. In this interview with pv magazine , Fraunhofer ISE Agrovoltaic Systems Leader Oliver Hörnle discusses global trends for the technology and opportunities in Brazil, highlighting the potential for reducing water and pesticide consumption.
What are the main global trends in agrovoltaics and how can they be applied in the Brazilian context?
The agrovoltaic sector is growing globally, however it is still a new technological approach with several unknowns that may influence the creation of global trends. However, it can be said that in several cases proofs of concept could be done, even for large-scale installations. Agrovoltaics can reduce water consumption by up to 50%, can serve as hail/radiation frost prevention, depending on the project, and significantly increase land use efficiency, especially in water-stressed and spatially conflicted regions. Several European countries, such as Germany, France and Italy, are on the verge of developing guidelines and regulations for photovoltaic agriculture, including subsidies.
For Brazil, agrovoltaics offers a diverse spectrum of application, as the climatic zones and agricultural practices are also diverse. It can be used as a substitute for phytosanitary measures in intensive horticulture, in aluminium tunnels or integrated into greenhouses.
In large-scale staple crop production, it can be used with low-pitch inter-row cropping systems to reduce water consumption and wind erosion. In livestock farming, it could be used as a shading measure for animals. In off-grid rural farming societies in water-scarce areas, agrivoltaics can serve as an enabler for agriculture, but also for social development by providing a source of electricity. The positive effect on agriculture is often greater in areas with agricultural challenges such as drought, excessive radiation, or frost and hail.
What are the main technical and economic challenges of implementing agrovoltaic systems?
Agrivoltaics is as diverse as agriculture itself. This makes it difficult to develop standardised products and applications. Every farmer grows crops differently, with different machine sizes, work steps and pesticide use. This has required a greater engineering effort compared to standard open-space photovoltaics. However, it is a young technology, so global application trends will be formed with increasing experience and data from research projects. The biggest economic challenge is the cost disadvantage compared to standard photovoltaics. Due to special structures and sometimes special modules, the cost is higher than for standard photovoltaics. The effects of increased photovoltaic yields and savings on the agricultural side have not yet been sufficiently researched to provide accurate banking information that can be used more generally and not just for individual projects.
What are the holistic benefits of agrovoltaic systems? Do they contribute to sustainability and food security?
The holistic benefits are renewable energy production, potential savings in water consumption, potential savings in pesticide use and we have several indications that the application of agrovoltaics can improve soil health and productivity, however, this needs further evidence to validate before the benefits can be clearly defined. In terms of food security in the Brazilian context, the main factor is the increase in resilience to drought, which can have a direct impact on food security during droughts.
How can the integration of solar energy with agriculture influence agricultural productivity?
It can have a serious impact both ways. If not planned carefully, knowing the light needs of the crops/crop rotations, yields can be lost completely. If designed well, yields can also be increased considerably. As a trend, agrivoltaics stabilises the microclimate, when it is cold it is usually less cold under the installation, when it is hot it is usually less hot in the agrivoltaic system, which can be a benefit depending on the needs of the plant. In general, plants that have a high light demand (C4 metabolism type, such as corn) reap less benefits in terms of productivity compared to shade-tolerant/shade-loving crops (C3 metabolism type, such as berries).
How can agrovoltaics help mitigate the effects of climate change in the Brazilian agricultural sector?
Droughts are a growing problem in Brazil, especially in the Northeast, which is facing the most severe drought in the last 40 years. Agrovoltaics reduces evapotranspiration and offers a water saving potential of over 20% in Central Europe. The potential in Brazil is greater, but has not yet been validated. Modules can also be used to collect rainwater during the driest months, thus increasing the resilience and sustainability of agriculture. Soil degradation and wind erosion can also be positively influenced. A pilot reforestation project for agrovoltaic systems is currently being investigated to evaluate the use of photovoltaics to revitalize degraded soils and regenerate vegetation. Depending on the outcome, this could have great application potential in Brazil.
Can Brazilian rural communities benefit economically from the adoption of agrovoltaic systems?
Yes, in different ways. If they are the operators/owners of the systems, they can create more diversified income streams, making rural communities less susceptible to the consequences of individual income streams. Especially in drought-stricken areas, the agrivoltaic system can save the harvest for farmers, at least in the area of ??the system. For rural communities that do not have access to reliable electricity, agrivoltaics can serve as a hub for small and large off-grid businesses or semi-autonomous systems. By replacing several manual functions with electrified solutions, the community has more free time to be creative in other business models. But even if the mechanism is put in place and owned by other actors, it can create co-benefits if well regulated and planned. This model would preferably be applied to utility-scale projects and should be well-guarded, so that the system is planned in a way that it does not affect farming practices and reduce yields to a tolerable point. |
