Agrivoltaic system: Experimental analysis for enhancing land productivity and revenue of farmers

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Energy and food security is alarmed by the influences of climate change, population, and world economic growth. In this perspective, the co-located agrivoltaic system, a nexus of photovoltaic and agriculture production, is more suitable to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of a country like India. An experimental investigation has been conducted at CUTM, Odisha through a portable and adjustable agrivoltaic system of 0.675 kWp capacity in 11 m 2 of land area to study the enhancement of land productivity and revenue of farmers or/and investors. This system provides an underneath farming of 1.5 kg turmeric as a shadow tolerant medicinal crop. Major performance indicators of the project such as land equivalent ratio, benefit-cost ratio, price-performance ratio, and payback period have been found as 1.73, 1.71, 0.79, and 9.49 years respectively. Further, the temperature level is decreased by 1–1.5 °C resulting in the improvement of the energy generation in the system and successfully tested in dual DC micro-grid solutions having two 12 V 75 Ah solar tubular batteries. This work can be extended to different scales of agrivoltaic systems with suitable crops in th farmers' land, as they are the end-users of this co-located system. New methods used: • Design and development of a portable and adjustable solar mounting structure. • Efficient configuration of panels in AVS to share sufficient light between solar panels and agriculture. • The annual average revenue from energy and food in the year 2021 are 51.52 and 31.36 USD respectively from 0.675 kWp AVS. • The economic indicator of turmeric farming gives a good B/C ratio of 1.71 which means that project is acceptable. • The LER and PBP are obtained as 1.73 and 9.49 years respectively implying more productivity and less return period. Innovative results: • From the experimental analysis of 0.675 kWp AVS at CUTM, Odisha, the annual average revenue from energy and food in the year 2021 are 51.02 and 31.36 USD respectively. • The temperature level is decreased by 1-1.5° C resulting in the improvement of the energy generation in the system. • The annual average energy generation capacity of 0.675 kWp AVS is around 1120 kWh. • The economic indicator of turmeric farming gives a good B/C ratio of 1.71 which means that project is acceptable. • The LER and PBP are obtained as 1.73 and 9.49 years respectively implying more productivity and less return period.