Water management and microclimate under an agri-photovoltaic system

The optimization of sustainable water management and water cycles creates the conditions for water consumption to be minimized even during dry periods. By protecting the cultivated area from weather extremes (heavy rain, hail, etc.) and partially shading it (protection from direct sunlight and lower temperature/sunburn) through the agricultural photovoltaic system, suitable and beneficial irrigation can be made possible using a comprehensive network of sensors. In addition, wind and water erosion should be reduced and the runoff of nutrient-rich soil into adjacent bodies of water should be reduced. A very topical issue in view of the advancing climate change!

Sketch of ideas on the topic of “water management” from the perspective of AgriPV-Solutions GmbH

Goal:

• Collection of rainwater
• Controlled irrigation of plants with water and nutrients
• Improvement of the water storage capacity of the soil
• Reduction of evaporation of the water bound in the soil
• Recording of the water loss of the respective cultures from their tissue.

Hypotheses:

• Targeted supply of the water draining from the solar modules primarily to the plants underneath and secondarily to nearby storage tanks, cisterns or collecting basins
• Application of substrate from 1st and 2nd generation biogas plants or bark mulch etc. to the roots of the plants as a moisturizer and fertilizer
• Measurement of the water absorbed from the soil by the respective cultures via their roots, and the release of part of this water in the form of evaporation and sweat (evapotranspiration)
• Quantification of the water resources of the respective district.

Sample concept for water gutter tracker system, agri-photovoltaics: