"Agrivoltaics has a very large market for small producers," says the King of Agriculture.

Unicamp (State University of Campinas) held, this Wednesday (9), a forum dedicated to the role of agrivoltaic plants in the energy transition and the prospects for expanding the technology in Brazil.

The meeting brought to the table discussions the use of the same area for energy generation and agricultural activities, as well as the technical, regulatory, and economic challenges involved in expanding these projects in the country.

The program covered topics such as more efficient water use, adaptation to climate change, and access to new technologies for small and medium-sized producers.

During his presentation, Ivan Bergier Tavares de Lima, a researcher at Embrapa Agricultura Digital, highlighted the need to analyze food production, water use, and energy generation in an integrated manner.

According to Bergier, the development of these solutions should also consider technologies that are more accessible to producers, with a higher degree of automation and systems that can be incorporated into farms more easily. The researcher also emphasized the importance of research funding for the advancement of these applications.

Carlos Andriolli, a speaker and communicator on energy and energy efficiency for agribusiness, popularly known as the "King of Agribusiness," was another participant in the Forum and highlighted the potential of technology for small rural producers, especially on properties where land availability is limited.

“The use of agrivoltaic systems in Brazil is very promising and has a very large market for small rural producers, where space is limited, but you can have a yield, a source of income in productivity and the technology generating energy, saving energy on the surface,” Andriolli noted.

Shading, water and productivity

One of the points addressed during the Forum was the potential of agrivoltaic systems to modify agricultural production conditions. Bergier presented studies related to the creation of more favorable microclimates, the reduction of soil and plant temperatures, and the improvement of water use efficiency.

Among the future possibilities presented are systems with solar modules capable of changing their position according to environmental conditions. In this way, in addition to seeking better conditions for energy generation, the movement of the modules could be used to control shading and solar incidence on plants.

"These are panels that can move, and that will have an impact on shading control," Bergier stated.

Andriolli also addressed the effects of shading, but from the perspective of technological applications. According to him, the presence of the modules can contribute to modifying the growing environment conditions, mainly in relation to temperature and water availability.

"When we talk about the fruit and vegetable system, you make it possible to maintain a lower temperature, have humidity, and even control the evaporation or transpiration of water from the soil," said Andriolli.

Water emerged as another possibility presented by Bergier: rainwater harvesting. This alternative is part of an approach that considers water, energy, and agricultural production as elements of the same system.

In addition to controlling shading and water use, the positioning of the modules was discussed in relation to the effects of strong winds. Bergier presented references to studies indicating that, in certain configurations, the arrangement of the structures can modify airflow and reduce the impact of wind on the cultivation area.

The potential effects on productivity were discussed. The researcher presented studies analyzing agrivoltaic systems applied to different crops, including peppers and cherry tomatoes.

One of the studies compared crops grown under agrivoltaic structures with conventional systems. The data presented indicated three times greater production for wild pepper and twice as much for cherry tomatoes under the evaluated conditions. In the case of jalapeño peppers, production remained practically at the same level.

The results also indicated differences in water efficiency, with an increase of 157% for jalapeño peppers and 65% for cherry tomatoes. However, these figures correspond to the specific conditions evaluated by the study and should not be interpreted as gains automatically applicable to any agrivoltaic project.

The possibilities discussed also involve using the electricity generated by photovoltaic modules in other processes within the agricultural supply chain itself.

Bergier cited, among the examples, electrolysis processes and the development of systems aimed at the local production of agricultural inputs, including fertilizers. The proposal considers applications that could range from smaller solutions to structures intended for large grain producers.

“In agriculture, you have both the issue of shading, which can be beneficial at certain times of day to increase productivity, and the possibility of harnessing electrical energy for the production of hydrogen and ammonia, used in fertilizer production, reducing Brazil's dependence on these imported inputs. The agrivoltaic system, in general, has the potential to generate a very large impact on the productivity of rural systems,” he added.

Agrivoltaics can also be applied to livestock farming.

The applications discussed during the Forum were not limited to crops. Bergier and Andriolli addressed the possibilities of using agrivoltaic systems in livestock farming.

Bergier demonstrated applications especially in confined areas, where photovoltaic structures could occupy currently uncovered spaces, combining electricity generation with providing shade for the animals.

Andriolli also highlighted shading as a possibility for integrating photovoltaic generation and animal husbandry, mainly due to its potential effects on thermal comfort.

“When we talk about integrated agrivoltaic systems, we are also talking about livestock farming, giving as an example animal comfort, with partial shading for cattle, where you can lower the temperature,” said Andriolli.

Based on this application, Bergier pointed out the need to evaluate how the presence of these structures can influence the performance and productivity of the animals. Among the aspects that can be studied are daily weight gain and possible effects on the carcass at the slaughterhouse.

Furthermore, Bergier mentioned international studies that analyze the effects of shading provided by photovoltaic structures on animals, including research related to the reduction of thermal stress.

Despite the possibilities presented for crops and livestock, Bergier stressed that the expansion of agrivoltaic applications depends on studies capable of determining how each system should be sized and adapted to different crops, climatic conditions, and agricultural activities.

"I believe there needs to be research into how to size and adapt systems for these functions," said Bergier.

Bergier also mentioned the need for training, research funding, and public policies capable of encouraging the development and adoption of these solutions.

According to the researcher, pilot projects and evaluations under different conditions will be important to understand the feasibility of the applications and contribute to the evolution of the technology in the coming years. He highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation between research institutions for the development of new agrivoltaic solutions in the country.

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