PV developer reveals results of soybean agrivoltaic pilot project – pv magazine International

January 19, 2023 Gwenaëlle Deboute

From pv journal in France

TSE inaugurated the primary agrivoltaic demonstrator on area crops in France final yr. The experimental undertaking is provided with its “agricultural cover,” which is a big cover with rotating photo voltaic panels positioned on cables 5 meters above the fields.

The farm grows soybeans, wheat, fodder rye, winter barley, and rapeseed, along with housing 150 cows. It has confronted highly regarded and really dry summers for the final 10 years. TSE put in the PV system to learn from its shade, in addition to cut back evapotranspiration and temperature throughout the summer season. The agrivoltaic system produces 3.2 GWh of electrical energy per yr.

The French developer has now introduced the primary outcomes of the undertaking. Soybeans have been sown in early June 2022 in an space spanning 3 hectares. The location is roofed with a PV cover. For the primary take a look at, six several types of soybeans have been planted, which have been harvested in Oct. 12, 2022.

The teams noticed strong development of soybeans, with regular flowering, fertilization, and physiological maturation. The six varieties examined confirmed a yield variety: as much as 25% distinction in yield beneath the cover and 19% within the management area.

“Regardless of a robust heterogeneity within the setting and particularly the soil, the info obtained, particularly for the Soprana selection, point out very promising outcomes for future harvests: no vital distinction for whole yield and the variety of pods of soybeans exterior. and beneath the cover, with a better 1000 kernel weight beneath the cover,” TSE mentioned.

Relating to temperatures, the agrivoltaic cover gives higher safety towards thermal stress throughout warmth stroke: the very best temperature noticed beneath the cover is 1.2 C decrease than the management space. The soil beneath the PV system stays cooler and retains higher humidity: on common, the readings present -3.5 C at a depth of 30 cm within the heart of the system from June to mid-August.

As well as, the water potential was discovered to be increased beneath the cover. Throughout flowering and the start of grain filling, soybeans within the management zone are beneath water stress, not like soybeans beneath the PV cover.

“After this stage, I noticed harm within the management space, whereas the soybeans planted beneath the panels have been higher protected,” mentioned farmer Sylvain Raison.