Agri-voltaic system: PV based generation and cultivation of cash crops

Abstract

Agri-voltaic system has been shown as a potential option to grow crops and generate renewable energy from a single land unit. The system is best suitable for those areas where solar irradiation is available in plenty and land productivity potential is comparatively low. Additional advantage of agri-voltaic system is its ability to harvest rainwater from the top of PV modules. The harvested rainwater can be used for cleaning of deposited dust on PV modules and to provide supplemental irrigation to crops. The agri-voltaic system can be connected to grid through net metering system to supply the PV generated electricity and earn an income of Rs 7.5 lakhs acre-1 year-1. Otherwise, the off-grid agri-voltaic system can be used to operate solar PV pumping system in farmers’ field. Apart from income by selling the PV generated electricity, farmers can also earn income from crop production. Overall, the land equivalent ration can be improved by installation of agri-voltaic system in farmers’ field.