Dynamic Agrivoltaic for Farm decarbonization and agriculture sustainability

Introduction

The Sun’Agri Carbon Farm project strives to deploy an agrivoltaic farm of the future which aims to protect agricultural production from climate change, and allow the farm to be self-sufficient and sustainable, targeting fair and green agriculture while providing an additional source of income for farmers through the resale of surplus energy generated.

Project Overview

The Sun’Agri dynamic agrivoltaic solution operates on two levels:

• A lower level dedicated to agricultural crops (the system's main product)
• An upper level dedicated to electricity production

The Carbon Farm system consists of a dynamic agrivoltaic structure that covers an area of 6 hectares (ha) with three types of Mediterranean open-field and greenhouse crops:

1. Grapevine
2. Fruit trees
3. Vegetables

The projections of the project result in a relative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of 100% compared to the reference scenario.

Innovations and Sustainability

The Carbon Farm project goes beyond the state-of-the-art by developing a global solution for farm sustainability through crop protection and enhancing the economic performance of Mediterranean farms. The innovations include:

• Dynamic bifacial Photovoltaic (PV) panels
• Intelligent cultivation operations through the direct use of solar power
• Decision-support tools to optimise inputs and cultivation itineraries
• Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based models to optimise both energy and crop production

Climate Change Adaptation

Climate change is increasingly affecting agriculture. Agrivoltaics at the plot level are a first step towards climate change adaptation, but they are no longer enough. This Carbon Farm project seeks to fulfil the goals set by the European Green Deal and the climate change adaptation strategies in the Mediterranean basin, influencing the European Union's energy, agricultural, and financial policies.

Thanks to its bifacial PV panels and intelligent shade control, the Carbon Farm system can protect crops against climate change and generate energy, thus reducing electricity poverty and enabling electricity to be used in rural areas far from the grid.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

This innovative solution can create new vocations and jobs in agriculture, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and regenerate the agriculture sector. Better crop yields also lead to the economic feasibility of the project.

The project, either directly along the project duration or because of its outcomes, will create direct and indirect jobs along the entire agrivoltaics value chain.

Scientific Contributions

This Carbon Farm project will also generate key scientific information concerning the influence of specific climate/growing conditions and intervention measures on:

• The physiology
• Stress
• Health
• Product quality/yield of several crops
• The global health of the associated ecosystem