Innovation on agrivoltaics plants: the LIFE AGRO-PV project

The LIFE AGRO-PV project aims to explore innovative agrivoltaics solutions that integrate solar energy production with agricultural activities tailored for the southern regions of Italy. By combining photovoltaic systems with flexible thin-film technology and tracking mechanisms, the project addresses the dual challenges of food production and renewable energy generation by leveraging on the collaboration between universities and private companies. To this aim, it is planned that three different types of commercially available flexible photovoltaic modules will be installed on the roof of an existing greenhouse, owned by San Demetrio s.s.a. The flexible photovoltaic modules will be able to be moved within guides added to the arches of the existing structure, thus moving from East to West during the day, and simultaneously modifying the shading zones inside the greenhouse according to specific crop needs. The movement of the PV modules will be automated and controlled through customizable control and management logic, aiming at obtaining an optimal trade-off condition between crop and energy yields. The control and management logic will be defined via an algorithm, which aims to optimize electrical and crop production. During the project, the PV performance in terms of efficiency and electricity production will be continuously monitored. The effects of photovoltaic shading will be evaluated both on the agronomic performance of short-cycle horticultural crops, such as lettuce, and on the indoor microclimate. Indeed, specially designed monitoring systems will be used to compare, among the various greenhouse sectors, microclimatic conditions and the plant growth influenced by opaque or semi-transparent modules and movement logic.