Agrovoltaics, a system combining agriculture with solar power, is increasingly recognized for optimizing land use and even enhancing crop quality or livestock production. Now, researchers in the UK have identified the best crop for agrovoltaic systems: tomatoes.
The study. A team of researchers at the University of Exeter explored the feasibility of combining solar energy generation, hydrogen production, and crop cultivation on the same land.
Their simulations focused on a 1-gigawatt (GW) agrovoltaic system in five locations: California, Australia, China, Nigeria, and Spain. The results showed tomatoes as the top-performing crop under solar panels.
Five sites and one common denominator: tomatoes. Tomatoes were found to be the most suitable crop due to their high yields in photovoltaic conditions. Although tomatoes are typically not shade-tolerant, the microclimatic benefits of solar panels—such as reduced radiation, lower temperatures, and increased humidity—created favorable conditions for their growth.
Hydrogen production. Hydrogen plays a key role in the project, despite seeming secondary at first glance. The researchers proposed using the solar panels to power electrolyzers that convert water into hydrogen, which would be stored and later used as a fuel for electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Why these locations? Lead researcher Aritra Gosh explained that the selected locations anticipate significant demand for hydrogen refueling. These areas, situated near cities and major highways, were chosen to minimize the costs associated with transporting hydrogen.
How it works. The proposed off-grid agrovoltaic system features 1 GW of solar capacity and 300 proton exchange membrane electrolyzers for hydrogen production. The setup uses over two million bifacial monocrystalline solar modules, each generating 440 watts, paired with 200 inverters rated at 500 kilowatts.
The proposed system.
The panels, installed at a 20-degree angle, cover 1.96 million square miles and allow simultaneous food production and electricity generation. Researchers calculated the land equivalent ratio for each site to assess the efficiency of combining agriculture and solar power.
A growing trend. Agrovoltaics are gaining traction, especially in regions where land is scarce. The UK study underscores the potential of these systems to optimize land use and improve biodiversity through controlled shading and humidity. Other studies have similarly highlighted agrovoltaics’ ability to synergize energy and agricultural production, offering a promising solution tailored to local needs.
Images | American Public Power Association (Unsplash) | Rafael Corrêa (Unsplash) | University of Exeter
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