This is what Agrivoltaic is

Translated by Michela Scappaticci

Agrivoltaic - but do we know what this word really means? We talk about agrivoltaics when large photovoltaic installations are built in the middle of cultivated fields, so this word is a combination of both photovoltaics and agriculture.

Until a few years ago, we thought that renewable energy and agriculture didn't always go together, but in recent years engineers and farmers with a great desire to innovate have been studying ways to make this union possible and profitable for everyone. It has been seen that, if installed in the right way and with certain criteria, photovoltaic cells do not damage crops, and are in fact a shelter against too much sun on summer days.

A lot of research was done and in the end it was decided to use the "latest generation" technology: bifacial solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers allow both direct and reflected light to be captured from the surrounding land, thus facilitating energy production. The use of bifacial solar panels and trackers minimises the area required for the photovoltaic system and maximises its effectiveness for agricultural use. "It will be possible to guarantee the protection of the rural landscape and biodiversity, and also ensure a positive spin-off for the local farms involved in the management of the crops," adds the French energy group Engie, which is responsible for the project, the fourth largest in the world.

The challenge was to build renewable energy plants without stealing land from agriculture, something that is not easy in an already very fragile territory such as Italy, but in some cases it has been a real success as in Mazara del Vallo, which has 115 hectares at its disposal and is the first of two renewable energy plants already announced by companies.

The second plant is in Paternò (Catania) and has just started producing energy. In total, both plants have a maximum production capacity of 104 MW and will cut more than 62,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, a nice win for the environment.

And, of course, the European Union encourages agri-voltaics and offers funds for those who build this type of plant in order to make almost all economic sectors more sustainable and with less impact on the environment. The European Union's bet is to make agri-voltaics convincing and affordable for farmers as well as for companies involved in the creation and distribution of electricity, and thus expand renewable energy to have zero impact on climate and nature.

Enel Green Power emphasises that “Renewable sources, sustainable use of the soil, protection of biodiversity”: there is all this within agrivoltaic, an innovative approach that allows solar energy generation and agricultural practices to coexist and interact in a virtuous way, in order to promote the creation of shared value with the territory and local communities that host the plants.

It has finally been realised that agriculture and renewable energy can forge a common and sustainable path, a process leading to a renewal of our habits and lifestyle in the name of a healthier and more natural life, more in harmony with our planet.

The benefits of agri-voltaics are truly multifaceted and all allow for win-win solutions for both farmers and energy companies, such as higher land yields, less water use because it increases shading, the possibility of having an additional source of income, and the creation of shared value in the area through collaboration with agronomists, agricultural companies and sector stakeholders.

Agrivoltaic energy is one of the few ways we have to obtain clean and renewable energy, which we desperately need right now as we have to break away from oil and other fossil fuels if we want to save our planet and at the same time turn our fields more productive.

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