Agrovoltaic systems for crop improvement in Equatorial Andean Regions   X. Serrano-Guerrero, J. Peralta-Álvarez, M. Quito-Zhinin, A. Barragán-Escandón and E: Zalamea-Leon    2024/07/20

Abstract

The current study evaluates the deployment of a grid-independent agrovoltaic system for maximizing land utilization and crop productivity. Through the utilization of solar energy, an integrated irrigation and monitoring system is incorporated to enhance crop growth. The project’s feasibility is evaluated from both technical and economic perspectives. The design of the photovoltaic system and the pumping system is customized to optimize efficient utilization of solar and water resources. The findings of this research demonstrate the viability of adopting an environmentally friendly approach. The utilization of photovoltaic solar energy for electricity generation can coexist with agriculture and complement each other.

Authors and affiliations

X. Serrano-Guerrero(1), J. Peralta-Álvarez(1), M. Quito-Zhinin(1), A. Barragán-Escandón(1)
and E: Zalamea-Leon(2)

1. Energy Transition Research Group, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana. Calle Vieja y Elia Liut Campus El Vecino – Cuenca, 010103 Azuay (Ecuador)

2. Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Cuenca. Av 12 de abril y Agustín Cueva – Cuenca, 0101168 Azuay (Ecuador).

Key words

Agrovoltaic system, solar energy, PVs.

References

[1] F. y. E. T. Barolli, Leonard y Hussain, Redes y aplicaciones de informacion avanzadas: Actas de la 36.ª Conferencia internacional sobre redes y aplicaciones de informacion avanzadas (AINA-2022), Volumen ´ 1. Naturaleza Springer, 2022, vol. 449.

 [2] A. GOETZBERGER and A. ZASTROW, “On the coexistence of solar-energy conversion and plant cultivation,” International Journal of Solar Energy, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 55–69, 1982. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/01425918208909875

[3] R. Rayhana, G. Xiao, and Z. Liu, “Internet of things empowered smart greenhouse farming,” IEEE Journal of Radio Frequency Identification, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 195–211, 2020.

[4] S. Amaducci, X. Yin, and M. Colauzzi, “Agrivoltaic systems to optimise land use for electric energy production,” Applied energy, vol. 220, pp. 545–561, 2018.

[5] P. d. S. Trevizan, “Viabilidade, potencial e caracter´ısticas do sistema agrovoltaico,” 2022.

[6] B. Willockx, C. Lavaert, and J. Cappelle, “Geospatial assessment of elevated agrivoltaics on arable land in europe to highlight the implications on design, land use and economic level,” Energy Reports, vol. 8, pp. 8736–8751, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722012185

 [7] M. Trommsdorff, J. Kang, C. Reise, S. Schindele, G. Bopp, A. Ehmann, A. Weselek, P. Hogy, and T. Obergfell, “Combining food ¨ and energy production: Design of an agrivoltaic system applied in arable and vegetable farming in germany,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 140, p. 110694, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032120309783

[8] S. Schindele, M. Trommsdorff, A. Schlaak, T. Obergfell, G. Bopp, C. Reise, C. Braun, A. Weselek, A. Bauerle, P. Hogy ¨ et al., “Implementation of agroPVs: Techno-economic analysis of the price performance ratio and its policy implications,” Applied Energy, vol. 265, p. 114737, 2020.

[9] U. Jamil, A. Bonnington, and J. M. Pearce, “The agrivoltaic potential of canada,” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 4, p. 3228, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/4/3228

[10] U. S. y. P. J. M. Malu, Prannay R y Sharma, “Potencial agrovoltaico en fincas de uva en india,” Evaluaciones y tecnologías de energía sostenible, 2017.

[11] H. Marrou, J. Wery, L. Dufour, and C. Dupraz, “Productivity and radiation use efficiency of lettuces grown in the partial shade of PV panels,” European Journal of Agronomy, vol. 44, pp. 54–66, 2013.

[12] L. Lucero, D. Lucero, E. Ormeno-Mejia, and G. Collaguazo, “Automated aeroponics vegetable growing system. case study lettuce,” in 2020 IEEE ANDESCON, 2020, pp. 1–6. [13] J.-A. V. Magsumbol, M. G. B. Palconit, L. C. Garcia, M. A. Rosales, A. A. Bandala, and E. P. Dadios, “Multigene genetic programming model for temperature optimization to improve lettuce quality,” in 2021 IEEE 13th International Conference on Humanoid, Nanotechnology, Information Technology, Communication and Control, Environment, and Management (HNICEM), 2021, pp. 1–5.

[14] R. Teodor, P. Moraru, and O. Mintas, “Influence of environmental and nutritional factors on the development of lettuce (lactuca sativa l.) microgreens grown in a hydroponic system: A review,” Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, vol. 49, p. 12427, 09 2021.

[15] D. Vaca Revelo and F. Ordónez, Mapa Solar del Ecuador 2019, 01 2020.

[16] J. P. Munoz-Vizhñay, M. V. Rojas-Moncayo, and C. R. Barreto-Calle, “Incentivo a la generacion distribuida en el Ecuador,” Ingenius. Revista de Ciencia y Tecnología, no. 19, pp. 60–68, 2018.

[17] X. Serrano-Guerrero, D. Alvarez-Lozano, and S. F. L. Romero, “Influence of local climate on the tilt and orientation angles in fixed flat surfaces to maximize the capture of solar irradiation: A case study in Cuenca-Ecuador,” in 2019 IEEE International Autumn Meeting on Power, Electronics and Computing (ROPEC), 2019, pp. 1–6.

[18] X. Serrano-Guerrero, E. Cantos, J.-J. Feijoo, A. Barragán-Escandon, and J.-M. Clairand, “Optimal tilt and orientation angles in fixed flat surfaces to maximize the capture of solar insolation: A case study in Ecuador,” Applied Sciences, vol. 11, no. 10, p. 4546, 2021.

[19] J. P. Calle Calle, “Estudio de un sistema híbrido hidro-solar: acumulación de energía generada por un sistema fotovoltaico a través de una pico central hidroeléctrica reversible.” B.S. thesis, 2022. ´

 [20] E. P. Gonzalez, J. O. Medel, and F. M. Gonzalez, “Historia del teorema ´ de bernoulli,” Acta Universitaria, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 39–45, 2007. [21] R. L. Mott, J. A. Untener, J. E. M. Murrieta, and R. H. Cardenas, ´ “Mecánica de fluidos,” 2006.

[22] G. G. Gonzales Penafiel, J. C. Zambrano Manosalvas, and E. F. Estrada Pulgar, “Estudio, diseño e implementación de un sistema de energía solar en la comuna puerto roma de la isla Mondragon del golfo de Guayaquil, provincia del guayas.” B.S. thesis, 2014.

[23] H. Industries™, “X2™ — Hunter Industries,” 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.hunterindustries.com/es/product/x2tm