This was proven by the primary outcomes on the Haidegg fruit and wine rising experimental station within the state of Styria, which has been testing an agricultural PV system for 2 years. “Local weather change brings extra of every little thing – hail, warmth, frost, dry intervals,” mentioned Leonhard Steinbauer, head of the station. The areas are additionally used for meals and power manufacturing.
Check facility on 5,000 sq. meters
Apples, cherries, apricots, plums – seven forms of fruit develop underneath 1,134 photovoltaic modules on round 5,000 sq. meters within the east of Graz. These are 49 p.c translucent and subsequently have a barely decrease efficiency. So as to have the ability to evaluate the consequences of the PV system on yield, fruit high quality and plant well being, the identical forms of fruit had been grown in parallel within the open air, generally underneath hail nets. After the late frost in April, it now turns into clear that within the stone fruit rows and not using a roof there are brown, dried leaves and hardly any fruit to be present in mid-Might. The espalier bushes underneath the photo voltaic cells had been considerably bigger and already bore some small fruits.
“Timber keep more healthy and develop longer”
“Photovoltaics be sure that the bushes keep more healthy and develop longer in autumn,” defined Steinbauer. It has been proven that these underneath the PV construction shaped extra and better high quality flower buds. It’s too early to say how effectively the modules had been in a position to shield towards the frost in April: “We do not know what occurred within the fruit tissue. However issues are trying spectacularly higher in the meanwhile,” mentioned Steinbauer confidently. In any case, it has already been famous that it’s round 0.25 levels Celsius hotter underneath the PV system. That is because of the carport impact – like vehicles underneath a deck, the temperature underneath the panels is barely greater.
The PV roofing additionally protects the fruit crops from rain. Figures from Haidegg present that the length of leaf wetness per day is considerably shorter underneath the modules. Which means chemical protecting brokers towards fungi, akin to these utilized in natural farming, may be distributed with. “If the leaves are moist, that’s preferrred for the scab fungus, for instance. It might destroy complete harvests,” says Steinbauer. The panels are organized in rows above the crops. In between, rainwater comes by and runs by the slope of the slope to the bushes.
Hail and mildew as a problem
In response to Steinbauer, hail is without doubt one of the challenges: “The grains bounced off the PV modules like a pool desk and flew into the subsequent row onto the crops.” Nets between the rows may present extra safety. “And powdery mildew feels very snug right here.” They now need to develop options towards this fungal illness that impacts dry leaves.
“The primary focus for photovoltaics stays on pre-polluted areas akin to roofs, parking heaps or streets,” mentioned Franz Grießer, head of the Agriculture and Forestry Division of the State of Styria. “By means of Agri-PV we will safe ourselves not solely when it comes to diet, but additionally when it comes to power,” he emphasised. Vitality manufacturing gives a second supply of revenue for farmers.
385,000 kilowatt hours of electrical energy
The system, financed by the federal and state governments, produces round 385,000 kilowatt hours of electrical energy per 12 months, which is principally used domestically in Haidegg. It was constructed by the Ecowind firm and went into operation in June 2022. Analysis will proceed within the coming years to develop a sustainable biostrategy. The financing for an growth of the ability has already been secured by the state of Styria, mentioned Steinbauer. Agri-PV shouldn’t be appropriate for all fruit farmers; it requires appropriate infrastructure akin to cables.
