Abstract
The growing need for clean energy and food production are favoring the use of underused spaces, such as rooftops. This study aims to demonstrate the compatibility of the use of rooftops both for the production of photovoltaic energy and for the production of food, despite the fact that both compete for the same resource, sunlight (rooftop agrivoltaic). In the experiment reported in this study, which was carried out in Almería (Spain) during the spring and summer of 2021, three shade treatments were tested for a lettuce crop, produced by photovoltaic modules with different arrangements: concentrated shade (CS), scattered shade (SS) and full sun (FS). This experiment was repeated in two seasons with high radiation levels and temperature. The results show that in these environmental conditions, the cultivation of plants that demand little sunlight, such as lettuce, is compatible with the shading produced by photovoltaic panels. In addition, it is shown that the same percentage of the area covered with shade (22%), but using mini-PV modules arranged in patterns, improves the productivity (fresh weight, dry matter, number of leaves, maximum length and dry matter of roots) of lettuce cultivation, both in spring and summer.
Highlights
Natural resources are under pressure, mainly due to the constant increase in the world population, as well as the demands for food and energy production
The environmental variables measured at the site were: PAR radiation, in three different positions, and temperature, as described in Section 2.5, and they were complemented by solar radiation data from a nearby station
The effect of a patterned mini-module design had positive consequences in the environmental conditions studied, which allowed higher plant productivity. This result is consistent with those obtained by Perma et al [50], the proposal made by these authors was limited to optical modeling, consisting of the implementation of a computer model that simulates the movement of the sun and the shadows projected on the ground, based on different variables, such as geographic location, the height above the ground of the photovoltaic panels, and the dimensions and shapes of the panels
Summary
Natural resources are under pressure, mainly due to the constant increase in the world population, as well as the demands for food and energy production. It is more necessary to implement sustainable practices, such as electricity self-consumption and the self-production of food. Rural exodus increases urban populations and leads to the abandonment of agricultural and rural areas. Cities will expand at the expense of agricultural land [3], causing the abandonment of productive areas [4]. This transition will require cities to be more sustainable, reuse natural resources, and adapt their infrastructure systems [5,6]. Food production has not caught the attention of planners [7]
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