Solar collector tilt angle optimization for agrivoltaic systems

Abstract

The growing global population increases the need for energy and food. As agricultural land is invaded by renewable energy projects, the area of land that can be cultivated is decreasing day by day. Agrivoltaics offers an alternative solution to this situation by combining agriculture and photovoltaics on the same land. This study investigates the feasibility of a possible 175 m2 Agrivoltaic system in Ankara Turkey (39.57° N-32.53° E). The study consists of three phases. In the first stage, the annual, monthly and seasonal optimum tilt angle for 39.57° N latitude was determined. In the second stage, eight different models were created for different tilt angles for PV panels of three different efficiencies in the agrivoltaic system to be installed. AC electrical energy and net profit ($) that can be produced with these models were calculated. In the third and final stage, the potential land equivalent ratio amount of seven agricultural cropscombined with eight different models was calculated. In the scenario created for the region, the highest yield increase is 11.2 % with M1 model (β = 31.33°)-Thinfilm, while the lowest yield loss is 33.2 % with M4 (β = 90.00°) Thinfilm. The highest generated electricity and net profit are AC-15674 (kW h) and 1286 ($) respectively. For the agricultural land determined to be grown in the system, the highest yielding agricultural product was kiwifruit with a value of 2.07 and the lowest yielding product was bokchoy with 0.25. This study can serve as a basic technical guidance for the establishment of Agrivoltaic plants with the highest efficiency in the Mediterranean climate and mid-latitude regions.