Farm achieves gain of 50% in eggplant harvest with agrivoltaic system

As reported by Solar Channel, you agrivoltaic systems are gaining more and more space in rural properties in the world. At France, for example, the farm project is attracting attention.

A year and a half after installing a 2,500 m² agrivoltaic greenhouse, located in the French commune of Granges-sur-Lot, the company Sun'Agri revealed the first agronomic results about a eggplant harvest.

It was observed in 2022 in the culture a yield greater than 50% with solar panels installed, compared to a reference area without the modules. In total, more than 800 kg of vegetables were harvested under the agrivoltaic system, front of about 500 kg.

“Eggplants harvested in panels have higher biomass, synonymous with better plant development,” explained Cécile Magherini, director of Sun'Agri.

Commissioned in September 2020, the solution meets the needs of operators, the Brinkhoff family, to adapt production to increasing climate risks, in particular the increase in average temperature in greenhouses (30°C in spring and 40°C in summer ) which causes burns to flowers and accelerates the development of new pests.

“I built this project with Sun'Agri in 2020. Today we grow various vegetables under these shutters without the need to whiten the greenhouses in summer,” said Youp Brinkhoff, head of Yola Farm.

“With two years of hindsight, there is also less pressure from pests like aphids. The next harvests will allow us to confirm and conclude the first encouraging results of this tool”, he highlighted.

Since the greenhouse opened, nine fruits and vegetables have been grown: tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, celery, fennel, spinach, lamb's lettuce and green beans.

Sensors used in the agrivoltaic system

To obtain the above results, Sun'Agri equipped the crops with sensors that allow a detailed analysis of their condition and the consideration of meteorological factors. These sensors are divided into 3 categories:

• Micrometeorological sensors: located at different heights of the plant, they measure air temperature, humidity, wind and radiation and integrate this data into Sun'Agri models;
• PAR sensors (Photosynthetically Active Radiation): measure active radiation for photosynthesis, allowing plant growth and needs to be estimated through models;
  Plant sensors: allow you to observe plant behavior (water status, functioning, stress, organ temperature) and optimize its well-being in real time.