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Design and analysis of a tracking / backtracking strategy for PV plants with horizontal trackers after their conversion to agrivoltaic plants

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  • Casares de la Torre, F.J.
  • Varo, Marta
  • López-Luque, R.
  • Ramírez-Faz, J.
  • Fernández-Ahumada, L.M.

Abstract

World population growth is leading to an increased demand for energy and food. This is creating a conflict over land use as terrain for large renewable energy facilities is not available for agricultural. As a solution, agrivoltaics combines the use of the land for agricultural and photovoltaic exploitation. In this work, the conversion of photovoltaic installations with N–S horizontal trackers into agrivoltaic installations by cultivating tree crops in hedgerows between the rows of collectors is analysed. Specifically, the shading of the crop on the photovoltaic panels is studied. It has been proved that there is an area between the collectors in which the crop would not shade the photovoltaic panels. Likewise, a new tracking/backtracking strategy is proposed to avoid shading in cases where the crop exceeds this region of no influence. Finally, it has been found that the Land Equivalent Ratio for an agrivoltaic plant in Córdoba (Spain) with N–S horizontal trackers and olive groves in hedges up to 3.0 m high and 1.5 m wide can increase between 28.9% and 47.2%. Thus, these PV installations are potentially adaptable to agrivoltaic installations making renewable energy facilities compatible with a more efficient and sustainable agricultural model.

Suggested Citation

  • Casares de la Torre, F.J. & Varo, Marta & López-Luque, R. & Ramírez-Faz, J. & Fernández-Ahumada, L.M., 2022. "Design and analysis of a tracking / backtracking strategy for PV plants with horizontal trackers after their conversion to agrivoltaic plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 537-550.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:187:y:2022:i:c:p:537-550
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.01.081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Barbón, A. & Fortuny Ayuso, P. & Bayón, L. & Silva, C.A., 2023. "Experimental and numerical investigation of the influence of terrain slope on the performance of single-axis trackers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    5. Yaichi, Mohammed & Tayebi, Azzedinne & Mammeri, Abdelkrim & Boutadara, Abdelkader, 2022. "Performance of a PV field's discontinuous two-position sun tracker systems supplying a water pumping system: Concept, theoretical and experimental studies – A case study of the Adrar area in Algeria's," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 548-562.
    6. Varo-Martínez, M. & Fernández-Ahumada, L.M. & Ramírez-Faz, J.C. & Ruiz-Jiménez, R. & López-Luque, R., 2024. "Methodology for the estimation of cultivable space in photovoltaic installations with dual-axis trackers for their reconversion to agrivoltaic plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 361(C).
    7. Grubbs, E.K. & Gruss, S.M. & Schull, V.Z. & Gosney, M.J. & Mickelbart, M.V. & Brouder, S. & Gitau, M.W. & Bermel, P. & Tuinstra, M.R. & Agrawal, R., 2024. "Optimized agrivoltaic tracking for nearly-full commodity crop and energy production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    8. Shalom, Ben Aviad & Mittelman, Gur & Kribus, Abraham & Vitoshkin, Helena, 2023. "Optical and electrical performance of an agrivoltaic field with spectral beam splitting," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P1).
    9. Barbón, A. & Carreira-Fontao, V. & Bayón, L. & Silva, C.A., 2023. "Optimal design and cost analysis of single-axis tracking photovoltaic power plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 626-646.
    10. Kim, Sumin & Kim, Sojung, 2023. "Optimization of the design of an agrophotovoltaic system in future climate conditions in South Korea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 928-938.
    11. Sirnik, I. & Sluijsmans, J. & Oudes, D. & Stremke, S., 2023. "Circularity and landscape experience of agrivoltaics: A systematic review of literature and built systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).

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