Case Study of Impact Evaluation of Agrivoltaic Structure Sizing on Water Availability for Wheat

Abstract

Agrivoltaic (AV) Systems are a new solution for cropping conditions improvement by mitigating extreme weather conditions. Indeed, AV Systems affect microclimate, notably Air Temperature, Irradiance or Evapotranspiration that determines Soil Water Availability. To evaluate crop water stress protection and ensure optimized AV Systems sizing, a methodology was developed using a microclimate simulation tool. This paper presents a case study of Wheat focused on Water Availability, from a project located near Orléans, Center France. The methodology uses Irradiance Simulations at crop level by AGRISOLEO software, which has been parameterized with the structures sizing under study and a panel steering algorithm adapted to wheat phenology. The results are used for evapotranspiration modelling following the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith equation. For this case study, results showed that AV Systems under test reduced irradiance up to 40%. This effect may be reduced up to 17% by controlling the panels rotation angle to maximize irradiance during crop’s key development stages. Furthermore, AV Systems reduced Water Stress up to 48%. Microclimate simulation tool demonstrated possibility to assess AV Systems sizing impact on irradiance received by crop and Water Stress protection. Moreover, controlling the solar panels at key development stages of the crop is the central lever in the synergy of dynamic AV Systems. The methodology presented here applies not only to Wheat but to a wider range of crops and climate conditions, hence opening promising perspectives to optimize AV systems sizing and agronomic benefits.