Agrivoltaic farming crops Denmark

What is agrivoltaic farming?

Here’s all you need to know about ‘agrivoltaic farming’ Agrivoltaic farming uses the shaded space underneath solar panels to grow crops. This article was updated on 28 October 2022. Agrivoltaic farming is the practice of growing crops underneath solar panels. Scientific studies show some crops thrive when grown in this way.

Can photovoltaics be used for crop farming?

Photovoltaics (PV) has emerged as a preferable renewable energy source. However, PV parks are installed on land areas, restricting the available land for crop farming. The EU-funded HyPErFarm project proposes the use of combined agrivoltaic systems that allow food production to continue on land used by PV parks.

How agrivoltaic systems can help farmers in East Africa?

Elsewhere, agrivoltaic systems in East Africa are allowing farmers to make better use of land that was previously seen as unviable. An Agrivoltaic farming project in Kenya is using solar panels held several metres off the ground, with gaps in between them. The shade from the panels protects vegetables from heat stress and water loss.

Could agrivoltaic farming be a solution?

Agrivoltaic farming could be a solution to not just one but both of these problems. It uses the shaded space underneath solar panels to grow crops. This increases land-use efficiency, as it lets solar farms and agriculture share ground, rather than making them compete against one another.

Can agrivoltaic systems affect farmland?

Researchers in Denmark have analyzed the potential of PV systems and their influence on the underlying farmland in three different agrivoltaic projects, including vertical bifacial optimal tilted, horizontal single-axis tracking, and vertical bifacial setups.

What crops can be grown under an agrivoltaic system?

Vegetables, especially lettuce and tomato, were the focus of many papers. The success of a crop under an agrivoltaic system depends on many factors, yet mainly on location and season. Additionally, even light-demanding crops such as maize could be grown under certain conditions.