The world's population is constantly growing. At the same time, the effects of climate change, including global warming, are increasing. Indeed, the agricultural and energy sectors are faced with numerous challenges.

Agrivoltaics seems to provide a solution to concerns in these areas. This consists in combining the production of electrical energy with agricultural production through the installation of photovoltaic systems.

These installations are supposed to provide shade to crops and/or animals in order to protect them from the rigors of the climate, while ensuring the production of electricity. SirEnergies allows you to find out here if photovoltaic and agricultural production go hand in hand.

How is the agrivoltaics sector doing in the world?

Agrivoltaics is becoming widespread throughout the world. Still embryonic in some countries, agrivoltaic systems are advanced in others.

The beginnings of agrivoltaics

Following various studies, German physicists Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow launched the concept of agrivoltaics in 1981. Initially, the two scientists developed a typical configuration.

The photovoltaic panels were installed 2 meters from the ground and separated from each other by at least three times their height. With an inclination of the panels corresponding to the latitude, the physicists found that the solar radiation captured was constant throughout the day. Agrivoltaics had thus just been launched.

Agrivoltaics in Asia

It was in Asia that the promises of Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow were first kept. Les first large-scale agrivoltaic projects are developing in this case in Japan.

Paradoxically, in the Land of the Rising Sun, photovoltaic panels are installed more in cities than in agricultural areas. Other Asian countries such as Malaysia and South Korea have adopted agrivoltaics in recent decades.

The mix of agricultural production and solar energy production is increasingly being promoted in Europe.

Agrivoltaics in France

In France, agrivoltaics has been practiced by farmers since 2009, following research conducted as part of the Sun'Agri project. This project is the expression of the will of the public authorities to experiment with the agrivoltaics concept in France. It was carried out thanks to a partnership between the company specializing in photovoltaic energy Sun'R and INRA (National Institute for Agricultural Research), which has since 2020 become INRAE (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment).

In order to set up agrivoltaic systems, the researchers based themselves on the system of tiered crops. Les photovoltaic panels then constitute the upper floor below which cultures are located. According to the conclusions of Sun'Agri's work, agrivoltaics makes it possible to have an agricultural yield similar to that obtained on an open-air farm. The project also made it possible to identify the limits of a fixed shade photovoltaic system.

Therefore, dynamic systems are tested and give convincing results. Agrivoltaics is evolving in France, with partnerships that are being established between farmers, organizations...

In January 2021, the network of chambers of agriculture, the FNSEA (National Federation of Agricultural Operators' Unions) and EDF jointly signed a charter of good practices in the agrivoltaics sector. In June 2021, the France Agrivoltaisme association was created in order to promote agrivoltaic systems.

What is the relationship between photovoltaic production and agricultural production?

The efficiency of an agrivoltaic project depends on the installation of solar panels and its suitability for crops or animals. Without being an agronomist, you're probably guessing that not all crops need to be covered. Some plants need more shade than others.

And it is for them that a Photovoltaic roof. However, it is possible to install a photovoltaic power plant on a farm without shading crops that do not need it.

For example, you can have the solar panels installed on a shed or a store if there are any on site. To be a success, the establishment of an agrivoltaics system must be the result of collaboration between agronomy technicians and solar energy technicians.

Each agrivoltaics project is specific since the orientation and the distance from the ground of the panels must be studied according to agricultural activity and geographical location.

A photovoltaic installation, used to protect crops from heatwaves, frost and torrential rains, can improve product quality. This makes it possible to extend the life cycle of plants such as vines. For their part, farms are suitable for the production of solar energy mainly because they offer a large area.

Agrivoltaics: what about bifacial exposure?

In general, photovoltaic panels are installed so as to expose one side to solar radiation. In order to take full advantage of it, some specialists in the field prefer bifacial exposure. This consists in placing the panels vertically or at an angle in order to capture the sun's energy on both sides.

This installation method is adopted for agrivoltaics projects. Vertical panels are used to reduce the footprint of the energy production system on the ground. They are most often spaced 7 to 15 meters apart in order to facilitate the movement of agricultural machinery.

The bifacial installation allows you to take advantage of both sides of the panels. The production of electrical energy could then be greater than in the case of a conventional installation.

How to take advantage of photovoltaic production in agrivoltaics?

La production of electrical energy on farms is a good idea at first glance. However, the main thing is to make use of the electricity produced while guaranteeing the protection of crops against climatic aggressions.

Consume electrical production and sell the surplus

Well installed, an agrivoltaic system makes it possible to produce electricity in proportions varying according to the area. You can do self-consumption to meet the energy needs of your farm.

Photovoltaic production can be used to power electrically-powered equipment and premises. It can also be used to heat tanks in viticulture. When production exceeds your needs, the excess energy is injected into the public network. You will then be paid according to the regulatory rate which varies according to the power supplied.

Only sell electrical production

You can decide to sell the entire quantity of electrical energy produced by your agrivoltaic system. This option seems to be the best if your energy needs on the farm are lower.

The electricity produced as part of an agrivoltaics project is purchased by EDF via its subsidiary EDF Obligation d'Achat. The rate is regulated, guaranteed for 20 years and fixed every 3 months.

If the power is greater than 100 kWp, a call for tenders is launched to define the price per kilowatt hour. It is organized by the CRE (Energy Regulatory Commission).

Rent the photovoltaic roof

La rental of the roof made of photovoltaic panels meets the concept of a third party investor. You can use it if you meet the requirements. Renting a photovoltaic roof on a farm can take two forms. On the one hand we have the construction lease And on the other hand the emphyteutic lease.

In the first case, as a farm owner, you are partnering with a company that will partly finance the work. This company will then be able to operate the photovoltaic system for the duration provided for in the contract. Eventually, you will become the owner of the installation and will then be able to use the energy production.

In the case of an emphyteutic lease, the partner company finances all the work to set up the system. She will thus be able to use the installation during the period provided for in the contract. However, it will have to pay you rent, every year or only once, at the beginning of the collaboration. This type of lease is characterized by a long term.

More than a new concept, agrivoltaics is a solution to environmental problems which concern the energy and agricultural sectors. On a farm, energy production can go hand in hand with agricultural production. To do this, call on specialists in the installation of photovoltaic systems on farms.

Did you know that?

Recognizing the climate emergency, SirEnergies offers professionals and businesses the opportunity to limit the ecological impact in terms of energy.
We have made the choice to work with key players in solar photovoltaic to offer you support solutions dedicated to your photovoltaic self-consumption projects.
Click below for more information:

Self-consumption solution