When photovoltaic systems are installed on fertile land, this often attracts criticism. However, it is entirely possible to harvest both electricity and crops from the same field. Agri-photovoltaics (agri-PV) makes it possible to continue farming under or between the modules. For agriculture, generating electricity in the field could bring many advantages – from additional income to protecting sensitive crops from sun, wind and hail. In the Energy and Food experimental field, we want to better understand the interaction between electricity production and agricultural use.
Agricultural land is in high demand – and not just for farming. Land cannot be multiplied and is needed for food production as well as for housing and transport infrastructure. The transformation of energy systems is also increasingly claiming land. Building large open-space photovoltaic systems on fertile farmland often causes discontent. However, it is entirely possible to combine arable farming and electricity generation – with so-called agri-photovoltaic systems (agri-PV), which allow agricultural use to continue under or between the modules.
There are numerous approaches and support concepts worldwide. However, the legal, social and economic conditions vary greatly. In Trenthorst, we will construct agri-PV systems to find out what yields are possible in combination with PV modules, which crops benefit, and how biodiversity, water balance and soil erosion change. The economic efficiency of such dual-use systems is also one of the questions to be investigated, as is the extent to which the modules replace protective nets.
The trial design will therefore be randomised, meaning that the trial groups will be created at random but will remain representative. This special structure will enable us to better understand the interactions between PV modules and agricultural use.
Large-scale agri-PV would also lead to a kind of electrification of agriculture, including autonomous, energy-self-sufficient fields. The resulting technical possibilities are still completely unexplored.