New research from Italy has shown that agrivoltaic systems can reduce potato yields by up to 15% compared to completely light cultivation. However, early season moderate shade was found to slow soil moisture depletion, increase biomass accumulation, and improve water use efficiency.
Researchers from the University of Florence in Italy have analyzed the impact of an agrivoltaic installation on potato production using a modeling framework that combines PV energy production, high-resolution shadow mapping, process-based biomass growth and economic analysis.
“In this paper, we did not conduct a dedicated field measurement campaign with pyranometers or under-row PAR sensors on an actual system for the case study,” said the study’s corresponding author, Andrea Ademollo. pv magazine. “Instead, the shadow was modeled using a deterministic geometric approach at 5-minute intervals based on the system geometry and sun position. This method ensures physical consistency by accounting for footprint variations with tilt, azimuth and solar geometry while providing high spatial resolution.”
“The indirect consistency of the workflow was verified by comparing the modeled yield reductions with experimental data from the literature for potatoes under temperate European conditions and comparable shade levels. In addition, open field yields were compared with national benchmarks,” he continued.
Come to the on March 5 Double harvest, double problems: addressing EPC barriers in agrivoltaic system design pv magazine session in English at KEY – The Energy Transition Expo in Rimini.
Experts will share insights on current agricultural voltaic technologies, key design choices and key barriers to standardized, scalable dual-use projects in Europe and Italy, including region-specific EPC issues.
In the study “Policy-related agrivoltaic energy in Italy: a potato case study linking shade, crop and economy”, which was recently published in Applied energyADemollo and colleagues analyzed a 1 MW open-pole agricultural voltaic installation installed on a potato field in Sesto Fiorentino, near Florence. The simulated system was assumed to occupy 40% of the site and use 2 m x 1 m monocrystalline modules with an efficiency of 19% and a power of 400 W, mounted 3 m above the ground at a slope of 30° and a distance of 5 m between rows.
The team performed high-resolution shadow simulations at 5-minute intervals with a spatial resolution of 13 cm x 6.5 cm and analyzed an 18-year record of meteorological data covering the growing season, from March 1, sowing to physiological maturity, to assess long-term potato yields under the agrivoltaic system and a conventional ground-mounted PV benchmark.
The results showed that direct irradiation under panels can decrease by up to 55% during the growing season, which can result in potato yields being approximately 15% lower than with full light cultivation. However, early season moderate shade was found to slow soil moisture depletion, increase biomass accumulation, and improve water use efficiency.
“With reduced radiation, the soil and canopy heat up less, reducing the demand for evaporation,” Ademollo explains. “As a result, plants lose less water compared to open field conditions. Lower water stress extends the production cycle: plants experience stressful conditions later, allowing them to maintain good water status for longer, which slows down senescence and extends the period in which the crop intercepts radiation and accumulates biomass.”
He added: “Moderate shade can be beneficial by reducing water stress, while intense or prolonged shade typically limits photosynthesis and reduces yields. In our case study, a ‘moderately shaded’ area showed a slight local yield increase, but per hectare average agricultural yields remain below open field levels.”
The simulations also indicated a land equivalent ratio of 1.58, reflecting substantial land use efficiency.
The techno-economic analysis found that the agrivoltaic system had a levelized energy cost of €0.084 ($0.099)/kWh, compared to €0.061/kWh for a conventional ground-mounted PV system at the same location. On abandoned agricultural land with 70% of its own electricity consumption, the agrivoltaic installation was also found to achieve an internal rate of return of 13% (payback time in 10 years), compared to 21% (payback time in 6 years) for ground-mounted PV. On conventional farmland, reduced yield losses helped close this gap.
“When self-consumption is low, more electricity is sold to the grid at lower rates, reducing profitability,” Ademollo concluded. “Our analysis shows that switching from high to low self-consumption significantly reduces performance indicators and extends the payback period.”
“Future research should integrate a micrometeorology sub-module to record air and ground temperatures beneath panels,” he added.
This content is copyrighted and may not be reused. If you would like to collaborate with us and reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Popular content
