Agrophotovoltaics is a concept which continues to gain traction among the renewable energy and farming industry. The innovative new system combines farming and solar electricity generation on the same area, allowing both to be economically viable.
Agrophotovoltaics is a concept which continues to gain traction among the renewable energy and farming industry.
The innovative new system combines farming and solar electricity generation on the same area, allowing both to be economically viable.
The concept was developed by Next2Sun GmbH, which this week commissioned the first commercial agri-photovoltaic system.
The concept involves the erection of a vertical arrangement of solar modules that can use sunlight from both the front and the rear (“bifacial” solar modules).
The two active sides face east and west. The areas between the modules can continue to be used for agriculture.
The system allows electricity generation which the land is still being farmers
Solar farms often compete for prime agricultural land and, once developed, severely limit the use of that land for agricultural purposes.
Last month, the results of Ireland’s first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction were released.
Over 1,750ha of solar panels successfully received support for 15 years, taking this land out of production.
Agrophotovoltaics farm
The first commercial agrophotovoltaics farm opened in Germany earlier this week. The agri-photovoltaic system was built in Aasen, on an area of around 14ha.
Around 11,000 bifacial solar modules were mounted on a total of 5,800 frame elements. The system will generate 4.1 megawatts of electricity at peak generation, with annual energy yields of 4,850 MWh.
This output is enough to satisfy the electricity needs of around 1,200 households.
The ground in between the panels will continue to be farmed.
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