Agri-voltaic system (solar farming): Electricity and crop production together, what is the method?

Agri-voltaic system is also known as Agri-voltaic system (Agricultural Voltage Technology) or Solar Farming. This is a technology in which farmers produce electricity along with the production of crops (especially cash crops) in their fields. Under photo-voltaic technology (PV), solar energy panels are installed along with crop production for electricity production in an agricultural land.

To increase the income of farmers from solar energy and to ensure that it does not affect farming, it was necessary to have a technology that can do both the tasks simultaneously. Generally, farming is not possible on the land where solar panels are installed. To overcome this problem, the Central Arid Zone Research Institute in Jodhpur has developed an agri-voltaic system. With this, farmers can use their fields for both purposes, that is, they can earn a good income by growing crops along with generating solar energy.

What is an agri-voltaic system (solar farming)?

If solar panels are installed on any cultivable land, then sufficient sunlight does not reach the fields. This affects crop production. In such a situation, it was a challenge for scientists to find a middle path. To solve the problem of farmers, they developed an agri-voltaic system, which makes it possible to do farming and produce electricity simultaneously.

In fact, the entire structure of solar panels is called ‘Photovoltaic Module’. This is the most important part of solar energy and when installed in the field, its shade keeps changing according to the direction of the sun. In the agrivoltaic system, the ‘photovoltaic module’ is fitted on a special structure made of light steel or iron angle at a fixed height from the ground in such a way that the inclination of the solar panel remains at an angle of 26 degrees from the ground surface. So that crops can be grown even under it.

3 designs of agrivoltaic system (solar farming)

Scientists have prepared three designs of agrivoltaic system i.e. solar farming. They made blocks of 28×28 square meters in a total area of ​​68×68 square meters. Under this, three rows were made. In the first, the distance between two rows was kept 3 meters, in the second 6 meters and in the third 9 meters. Two types of structures have been made in these three blocks.

Agrivoltaic system (solar farming): These crops can be grown

Agricultural scientists have also selected crops suitable for different seasons under the agrivoltaic system. Moong, moth and guar crops can be cultivated in the rainy or Kharif season and isabgol, cumin and gram can be cultivated as irrigated crops in Rabi. Apart from this, medicinal plants like aloe vera, vegetables like brinjal, spinach and cucumber can also be grown at different times of the year. Aromatic grasses like lemon grass and palme rosa from dry climates are also good options for growing under photovoltaic modules.

Solar panels have been installed in the field itself

Yogesh Jain, a resident of Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh, has been doing organic farming since 2009. He has planted many types of vegetable trees in a 20-acre orchard. Yogesh Jain also cultivates pulses and spices.

Jain has planted banana, guava, amla, seasonal, fig, lemon, Thai pink guava trees in his orchard. Yogesh Jain has also done many experiments in farming, which is helping many farmers of the area. He has also installed a solar plant in this garden.

How to earn extra money by selling solar power?

The power generated from photovoltaic modules is connected to the local electricity grid under the ‘net metering system’. The power generated is being sold directly at the fixed rates of the state electricity board. These rates vary in different states of India. However, the income from the power generated from the agricultural voltaic system is calculated at an average rate of Rs 5 per kilowatt.

In Jodhpur, sunlight is available for an average of 4-5 hours daily for power generation. Therefore, a 1 kilowatt photovoltaic system generates 4-5 kilowatt hours (units) of electricity daily. At least 400 units of electricity can be generated in a 105 kilowatt agricultural voltaic system located in Jodhpur. In 2020, the average power generation was 353 units per month. That is, the annual production is 1,29,266 units, which is worth Rs 6,46,330. In this way, farmers can earn extra income by selling solar electricity.