Design and analysis of a tracking / backtracking strategy for PV plants with horizontal trackers after their conversion to agrivoltaic plants

Torre, F. Casares de la; Varo-Martínez, Marta; Luque, Rafael; Ramírez-Faz, J.; Fernández-Ahumada, Luis Manuel

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2022.01.081

Cited by 34 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…For all these reasons, the expansion of this new agricultural model must be supported, since, together with other initiatives developed to incorporate renewable energies in the rural environment [15][16][17], it contributes to the fight against climate change [2,10]. However, this progress must go in parallel with the advancement of scientific and technical knowledge of the system [41] in order to identify its weaknesses and strengths, solving the former and strengthening the latter. In that sense, further studies of the behavior of crops under agrivoltaic conditions require an exhaustive knowledge of the spatial distribution of solar radiation within the portion of land between collectors allocated to crops [41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this progress must go in parallel with the advancement of scientific and technical knowledge of the system [41] in order to identify its weaknesses and strengths, solving the former and strengthening the latter. In that sense, further studies of the behavior of crops under agrivoltaic conditions require an exhaustive knowledge of the spatial distribution of solar radiation within the portion of land between collectors allocated to crops [41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Faced with this situation, as an alternative, the present work proposes taking advantage of the existing PV plants connected to the grid for their reconversion into agrivoltaic plants, thereby reducing the initial cost of building the plant. To do so it is necessary to investigate further into the characterization of this proposal [41]. Thus, for example, it is convenient to identify those crops that present a better performance in this type of installation as well as the geometry of the photovoltaic plants that best adapt to this pro-posal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial Distribution Model of Solar Radiation for Agrivoltaic Land Use in Fixed PV Plants

et al. 2022

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Agrivoltaics is currently presented as a possible effective solution to one of society’s greatest challenges: responding to the increasing demand for energy and food in an efficient and sustainable manner. To this end, agrivoltaics proposes to combine agricultural and renewable energy production on the same land using photovoltaic technology. The performance of this new production model strongly depends on the interaction between the two systems, agricultural and photovoltaic. In that sense, one of the most important aspects to consider are the effects of the shadows of the photovoltaic panels on the crop land. Therefore, further study of crop behavior under agrivoltaic conditions requires exhaustive knowledge of the spatial distribution of solar radiation within the portion of land between collectors and crops. This study presents a valid methodology to estimate this distribution of solar irradiance in agrivoltaic installations as a function of the photovoltaic installation geometry and the levels of diffuse and direct solar irradiance incident on the crop land. As an example, this methodology was applied to simulate the radiative capture potential of possible photovoltaic plants located in Cordoba, Spain by systematically varying the design variables of the photovoltaic plants. Based on the results obtained, a model correlating the agrivoltaic potential of a photovoltaic plant with its design variables is proposed. Likewise, for the “Alcolea 1” photovoltaic plant (Cordoba, Spain), the solar radiation decay profiles were simulated in the lanes between the photovoltaic collectors where the crops would be planted in the event of converting this plant into an agrivoltaic facility. Thus, the methodology proposed represents an interesting way to determine the agrivoltaic potential of existing grid-connected photovoltaic installations that could be converted into agrivoltaic installations, contributing to the implementation of this new agricultural production model that is more sustainable and environmentally committed to the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial Distribution Model of Solar Radiation for Agrivoltaic Land Use in Fixed PV Plants

et al. 2022

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“…In this context, as a solution, agrivoltaics proposes to combine, on the same land, agricultural and renewable energy production, using photovoltaic (PV) technology [2]. Several studies have analysed the behaviour of agrivoltaic facilities [1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The results of these preliminary studies indicate that agrivoltaics can significantly increase the productivity of the land [4,6,7,10,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have analysed the behaviour of agrivoltaic facilities [1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The results of these preliminary studies indicate that agrivoltaics can significantly increase the productivity of the land [4,6,7,10,12]. On the one hand, the shading of PV panels reduces incident solar irradiance and crop temperature, which can benefit some types of crops [1,7,9,11,13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of an experimental agrivoltaic installation located in an educational centre for farmers in Cordoba (Spain)

Martínez¹,

Ahumada²,

García³

et al. 2022

REPQJ

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The continuous growth of the world population is causing an increase in the demands for food and energy of the population. Given these circumstances and the negative consequences derived from climate change, it is necessary to evolve towards a more efficient and sustainable agricultural system. In this sense, the agrivoltaic proposes to combine agricultural production and photovoltaic energy production in the same piece of land. Several studies have analysed the behaviour of the agrivoltaic facilities from a theoretical point of view. However, it is necessary to test the viability of this new system in experimental plants. In this work an experimental agrivoltaic plant developed in Córdoba (Spain) is described. The preliminary results of this study show that agrivoltaics can and should play a fundamental role in the energy model of the countries since it promotes the development of renewable energies while improving the economic performance of agricultural land.

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PVSails: Harnessing Innovation With Vertical Bifacial PV Modules in Floating Photovoltaic Systems

Tina,

Osama,

Cazzaniga

et al. 2024

Progress in Photovoltaics

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In the context of offshore floating photovoltaic systems (FPVs), this paper explores the use of bifacial photovoltaic modules installed in the vertical position. The energy harvested from the rear face of vertically configured bifacial PV modules compensates for the reduced production at the front face of the module, and this demonstrates the potential of bifacial technology for offshore applications. By comparison, most existing horizontally tilted bifacial FPV systems gain only a small benefit in production from the rear face of the module due to the minimum radiation received, and what also must be taken into consideration is the negative effect of significant soiling owing to the low tilt angle of the PV modules. Hence, to overcome these drawbacks, we have developed the innovative “PVSail” concept, which explores the deployment of vertical FPV systems on floats, buoys, or poles/minipiles. Floating vertical bifacial PV systems (VBPVs) have huge potential to harness all the energy generation capabilities enhance by reflected light, especially from snow‐covered surfaces in northern regions. Our analysis considers a patented mooring and vertical PV system that allows the VBPV structure to align with the prevailing wind direction to shed wind loads, and our numerical analysis explores the potential of VBPV applied to Catania in Italy and Nigg Bay in the United Kingdom. Our analysis study has revealed that across an azimuth angle range (0°–180°), vertical bifacial modules experience roughly a 9% decrease in energy yield at Catania and about a 5% energy yield gain in higher latitude regions like Nigg Bay. Additionally, increasing the latitude of the installation location of VBPV reduces the energy yield sensitivity to the orientation, that is, azimuth angle. The PVSail concept opens the door to novel deployment possibilities in offshore renewable energy projects.

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Design and analysis of a tracking / backtracking strategy for PV plants with horizontal trackers after their conversion to agrivoltaic plants

Cited by 34 publications

References 40 publications

Spatial Distribution Model of Solar Radiation for Agrivoltaic Land Use in Fixed PV Plants

Spatial Distribution Model of Solar Radiation for Agrivoltaic Land Use in Fixed PV Plants

Characterization of an experimental agrivoltaic installation located in an educational centre for farmers in Cordoba (Spain)

PVSails: Harnessing Innovation With Vertical Bifacial PV Modules in Floating Photovoltaic Systems

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