Things are going double inexperienced at RWE’s agrivoltaics plant within the Rhenish mining space. Since the start of the 12 months, about 6100 photo voltaic modules have produced inexperienced electrical energy, and now farmers are sowing the primary seeds and planting crops on the positioning.
In roughly 7 ha. recultivation space on the aspect of the Garzweiler opencast mine, RWE makes use of three totally different ideas to check how solar energy technology and agriculture can coexist – efficiently and profitably.
In the primary configuration, the photo voltaic modules are mounted and mounted vertically on the substructure. In the second idea, the modules are mounted on a movable axis, which permits them to comply with the course of the solar from east to west. Farmers from the RWE recultivation group not too long ago sowed alfalfa and a combination of clover and grass between the rows of modules. These crops put together the soil for the cultivation of grains, root crops and greens within the coming years. In the third resolution, the modules are raised on a pergola-like substructure. Below it, a farmer from the area grows raspberries in pots. Among different issues, this type of cultivation permits wholesome plant development with excessive yields and a extra predictable harvest time.
RWE intends to hold out the vital analysis utilized in its demonstration plant. To this finish, the interplay between plant development and PV expertise might be noticed over a interval of at the least 5 years below totally different climate circumstances. The goal is to develop applicable administration strategies and financial operation ideas for agrivoltaic programs primarily based on the information gained.
Scientific assist for the mission was supplied by the Institute for Plant Sciences of the Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. The mission is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia by the progres.nrw program for local weather safety and power transition.
For extra information and technical articles from the worldwide renewable trade, learn the newest concern of Energy Global journal.
Energy Global’s Summer 2024 concern
The Summer 2024 concern of Energy Global begins with a visitor remark from Terrawatt on streamlining the authorization course of in Italy, earlier than shifting to a regional report from Frost & Sullivan on the power panorama in Asia Pacific. This concern seems at key matters equivalent to wind set up vessels, offshore wind turbine foundations, climate evaluation, photo voltaic upkeep, and extra!
Read the article on-line at: https://www.energyglobal.com/photo voltaic/19062024/rwe-plants-seedlings-at-its-agrivoltaics-demonstration-plant/
