Introduction:             

Climate change and drought negatively affect the whole world. Therefore, it becomes necessary to invest in renewable energy. A prospect that agricultural crops might one day serve as a source of renewable energy has been sparked by the need for new sources of renewable energy and the rising cost of fossil fuels. In this essay, we debate the optimal methods for converting solar radiation into food and energy. In contrast to the monocrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that are commercially available, which have an average output of 15%, the intrinsic efficiency of the photosynthetic process is quite low (about 3%). As a result, enormous solar panel arrays are currently anticipated. As a result, agriculture will compete with solar plants using PV panels on land. In this work, we propose that combining food crops and solar panels on the same plot of land may maximise the use of the land. We propose to refer to this as an agrivoltaic system. We compared two agrivoltaic systems with various PV panel densities and conventional choices (separating agriculture and energy harvesting) using land equivalent ratios. We used a crop model to forecast the productivity of the partially shadowed crops and approximated the light transmission at the crop level with a field of solar panels. These preliminary findings suggest that agrivoltaic systems may be quite effective: for the two PV panel densities, a 37%–73% increase in worldwide land productivity was expected. The advantages of such mixed systems can be explained by facilitation processes similar to those found in agroforestry. Therefore, new solar plants might combine the production of food and electricity, especially in nations with limited arable land. By observing agrivoltaic system prototypes, it will be possible to verify the predictions that are part of our models and demonstrate the viability of the proposed strategy.

What is Agri-PV?

Agrivoltaics (AKV) is a perfect combination of solar panels and plants on farmland. Electricity can be generated on the same plot of land that is used for agriculture thanks to Agrivoltaic systems. The efficiency of electricity generation can be raised by using Agrivoltaic systems.

Why are Agrivoltaics Important?

• It lowers emissions that contribute to climate change. 

• It reduces water consumption. So, the water requirement of food is reduced.

• Support animal grazing

• Agriculture that is cleaner and more effective

 Abstract

Agrivoltaics, which integrate photovoltaic power production with agriculture on the same plot of land, have the potential to reduce land competition, reduce crop irrigation, and increase solar panel efficiency. To optimise agrivoltaic systems for crop growth, energy pathways must be characterised. While the solar panels shade the crops, they also emit longwave radiation and partially block the ground from downwelling longwave radiation. Designing agrivoltaic systems would be made possible by a regulated allocation of energy if spatial variation in incoming energy were well understood. The model also shows that when evaluating a complete energy balance on the ground beneath solar panels, longwave energy should not be disregarded.

Agrivoltics Advantage & Disadvantage

1)  Advantages:  

• A rise in production

• Increase of agricultural land

• The best possible energy conversion in agriculture

• In agriculture or photovoltaic panel cleaning

• Water savings

• Financial Return

2)  Disadvantages:  

• Expensive

• Crop Rotation Is Required

• Many Farmers Unaware of Benefits

• Still In Development

• Hidden Costs

For photovoltaic agriculture, the environment is both the cause and the result of the development of this technology or approach. As mentioned above, the generation and development of photovoltaic agriculture is mainly due to the development of photovoltaic technology and the photovoltaic industry, and the development of photovoltaic agriculture is largely due to environmental protection.

In France, also have Agri-PV projects

In France, there are already executing many pilot projects with farmers and agricultural chambers to develop Agri-PV initiatives. Through research centres, partnerships with universities are also being formed.

In addition to the several Agri-PV projects now underway in France, It has completed eight ground-based solar arrays that are utilised as sheep pasture. They not only benefit from high-quality feed, but the panels also shield them from severe weather and high summer heat. Currently, researching cow farming opportunities. As a result, our solar farms assist to sustain a considerable amount of agricultural activity, and sometimes even resuscitate it, when they are put on land that was previously utilised for something else.

Conclusions

The purpose of this research was to determine whether public support for solar development rises when electricity and agricultural produce are merged in an agrivoltaic system. According to the findings, 81.8% of respondents are more inclined to support solar growth in their town if it includes agricultural output. This rise in solar support because of the agrivoltaic method highlights a development strategy that can boost local societal acceptance and the rate of solar photovoltaic deployment. The most important factors identified by respondents in terms of agrivoltaic development in their community include income opportunities for farmers and local economies, siting considerations related to land type (i.e., private versus public) and visibility, and distribution of project benefits, all of which are comparable to the most important factors related to supporting solar in general. Respondents favour agrivoltaic projects that a) give economic possibilities for farmers and the local community, b) are not placed on public property, c) do not jeopardise local interests, and d) assure equitable distribution of economic benefits. These findings provide an opportunity to increase solar PV deployment in a way that generates valuable co-benefits for host communities, as well as to revise local land use policy to support increased agrivoltaic development - an opportunity that should not be overlooked, given the imminent environmental and societal challenges associated with rising energy and food demands, land use constraints, and climate change.

What is Photovoltaic (Pv)?

Photovoltaic is the abbreviated use of photovoltaic solar cells. PV used in many fields. In solar energy systems, solar photons falling on them are used to convert the rays directly into electrical energy.

Why is Photovoltaic (Pv) Preferred?

• Economic

• Trustworthy

• Free and endless as its source is the sun

• Does not require maintenance and repair.

• Can be placed anywhere conveniently.

• Does not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere

• Decreases carbon gas emissions

• Nature friendly

What are the Types of Photovoltaic Energy Systems?

There are 2 types :

Off-Grid Photovoltaic Solar Energy Systems:  Off-Grid photovoltaic systems are generally used where there is no electricity grid. In the Off-Grid solar energy system, the electricity produced by the solar panels is regulated by the charge controller and stored in the batteries, and this electricity stored in the batteries as DC is converted into AC electricity by means of an inverter. Its main parts are solar panel, battery pack, charge controller and inverters.

On-Grid Photovoltaic Solar Energy Systems: On-Grid photovoltaic solar energy systems are solar power plants. Because the electricity produced by solar energy is converted into AC electricity and sold to the grid. Main elements: Solar panels, Inverter, bidirectional counters and datalogger

Basic Elements of Photovoltaic Energy Systems

• Solar Panel

• Charge Controller

• Batteries

• Inverter

Bibliography - Agrivoltaics

THE EXPLANATORY , “Why are Agrivoltaics important? (Farming with solar panels)”, 12 Sep 2022 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuwSZ4BiyZk)

ATIL EMRE COSGUN, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,International Journal of Engineering Research and Development, “Investigation Of Agrivoltaic System Usability Generating Over 50MW Of SPP Different Cities in Turkey”  Volume:13, Issue:2, June 2021  (https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/1622392 )

Bibliography - Photovoltaics

İncitaş, What is Photovoltaic Energy Systems?, (https://www.incitas.com.tr/bilgi-merkezi/blog/fotovoltaik-enerji-sistemleri-nedir)

Green Solar Network, 25 May 2021, What is Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy System? What are System Components? (https://www.greensolarnetwork.org/bilgi-bankasi/fotovoltaik-pv-gunes-enerji-sistemi-nedir-sistem-bilesenleri-nelerdir#:~:text=Fotovoltaik%20g%C3%BCne%C5%9F%20enerjisi%20sistemleri%2C%20elektrik,olmak%20%C3%BCzere%204%20ba%C5%9Fl%C4%B1%C4%9Fa%20ayr%C4%B1labilir.)