A One GWp Agrivoltaic Solar Goji Berry Farm
Image Credit: Huawei
Baofeng Group, an internet information services provider based in China, is on the path to amplify the capacity of a 640 MW solar park to 1 GW. The park, located in the Binhe New District on the eastern edges of the Yellow River in Ningxia Province, is part of an ambitious project that merges photovoltaic (PV) power production with goji berry farming. Goji berries are widely used in traditional East Asian medicine.
The project is equipped with inverters provided by Huawei. In 2014, Baofeng Group initiated the management of 107 square kilometers of desertified land in the region. To rejuvenate the soil, they initially planted alfalfa, a perennial flowering plant. Post soil improvement, the alfalfa was cleared out to make way for the solar farm. Once the solar infrastructure was in place, they commenced the planting of goji berries underneath the panels, revitalizing the region’s goji farming and breathing life into what was once an uninhabitable stretch of desert.
The first phase of the project, amounting to 640 MW, was connected to the grid under China’s feed-in tariff (FiT) program for solar energy in 2016. This phase employed 13,000 Huawei smart string inverters. The solar power facility is reported to substantially decrease land moisture evaporation by 30-40%. Meanwhile, vegetation coverage has seen an impressive surge by 85%, contributing to a notable improvement in the regional climate.
Solar panels for the project were mounted at a height of 2.9 meters, creating ample space for goji berry cultivation without impeding the operation and maintenance of the solar infrastructure. The deadline for the completion of the project has yet to be released.
Numerous studies have suggested that the shade provided by solar panels can potentially multiply fruit and vegetable yield two to three times compared to traditional agricultural methods. This unique setup, known as agrisolar or agrivoltaics, is being trialed by several companies globally, and the early results are encouraging. It appears that agrivoltaics holds a promising future.
Image Credit: Image Credit: Huawei
Research from the U.S. has suggested that agrivoltaic systems, which are farming setups where solar photovoltaic (PV) installations coexist with crops, could have high potential when combined with leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach, as well as root crops including potatoes, radishes, beets, and carrots. Additionally, the combination with small fruit crops such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and lingonberries could also yield strong results, although this has yet to be investigated fully. On the other hand, the research authors caution against taller crops like corn or orchard crops which may interfere with the solar panels.
In a separate study, researchers from the University of Arizona have found that the shading provided by solar panels can lead to two to three times more fruit and vegetable yield compared to traditional farming methods. This research focused on chiltepin peppers, jalapenos, and cherry tomato plants cultivated in the shadow of PV panels in arid regions.
Further supporting these findings, the concept of agrivoltaics is gaining traction as a promising solution to the challenges posed by climate change to our food, energy, and water systems. The idea behind agrivoltaics is to integrate PV modules above crops, thereby enhancing climate resilience and allowing for sustainable food and energy production on the same piece of land. By combining farming and energy production in this way, greater efficiencies in both activities can be achieved, benefiting farmers, energy developers, and rural communities alike.
Image Credit: Huawei
However, there are challenges to address. From an agricultural perspective, the main concern is a potential decrease in crop yield due to reduced light. The choice of crops and the design of the system are thus critical. Options for crop production under the panels are limited to crops typically grown and harvested by hand or with small machinery. These include shade-loving pollinator crops, bedding plants, nursery crops, small-statured fruit trees or shrubs, vegetables, and small to medium livestock. From a photovoltaic performance perspective, designing a system that meets the requirements of both crop or livestock farming and solar energy production while keeping costs low is crucial. For instance, a solar sheep farming system’s design doesn’t differ much from a solar-only project, but a solar berry farming setup may require taller, more robust structures to withstand stronger winds, which can affect costs.
Image Credit: BayWa R.E and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar
Despite these challenges, the benefits of agrivoltaics are considerable if the project is properly designed. For solar developers, benefits include reduced installation costs, increased PV performance, accelerated energy transition, improved relations with the agricultural sector, reduced upfront risk, reduced legal risk, and marketing opportunities to sustainability-minded audiences. For agricultural land managers, benefits include reduced electricity costs, revenue diversification, the ability to grow high-value, shade-resistant crops, extended growing seasons, maintaining crop production during solar generation, nutrient and land recharge of degraded lands, and potential for water use reduction. There are several successful implementations of agrivoltaic systems across the globe. For example, the BayWa company has undertaken several pilot agri-PV projects in the Netherlands and Germany, focusing on a variety of crops including wheat, potato, celery, and different types of berries. Data analysis from these projects showed that conditions beneath the panels were cooler on hot days, reducing water demand and heat stress. At night, heat was retained better than under traditional plastic coverings currently used to protect berries, which could potentially decrease the use of plastic in farms. Another example is Endesa & Enel’s agri-PV project in Spain, which combines crops, photovoltaic panels, and beekeeping. Lastly, a project in France by Sun’Agri demonstrated reduced water demand and improved grape quality in a vineyard equipped with their dynamic agrivoltaic system.
Image Credit: BayWa R.E and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar
While there are many challenges to overcome, the potential benefits of large scale agrisolar farm projects are substantial and far-reaching. They offer a powerful solution to the intertwined problems of land use, energy production, and food security in an era of climate change. By integrating photovoltaic panels with agricultural activities, these initiatives can enhance both food and renewable energy production on a single piece of land. They also present numerous advantages to both solar developers and agricultural land managers, including reduced costs, increased energy performance, enhanced agricultural yields, and the potential for extended growing seasons. Despite potential setbacks, such as decreased agricultural production due to reduced light, the right design and crop or livestock selection can ensure successful implementation. Examples of successful implementations across the globe demonstrate that with careful planning and strategic execution, agrisolar farms can play a crucial role in sustainable development and climate resilience, making them an area of great promise and interest for the future.