Large-scale and cost-efficient agrivoltaics system by spectral separation
Fangxin Zhang,
Ming Li,
Wei Zhang,
Wenjun Liu,
Altyeb Ali Abaker Omer,
Zhisen Zhang,
Jianan Zheng,
Wen Liu,
Xinyu Zhang
Affiliations
Fangxin Zhang
Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei City 230026, China
Ming Li
Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei City 230026, China
Wei Zhang
Xiong’an Institute of Innovation, Xiong’an New Area 071700, China
Wenjun Liu
Xiong’an Institute of Innovation, Xiong’an New Area 071700, China
Altyeb Ali Abaker Omer
Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei City 230026, China
Zhisen Zhang
Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei City 230026, China
Jianan Zheng
Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei City 230026, China
Wen Liu
Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei City 230026, China; Xiong’an Institute of Innovation, Xiong’an New Area 071700, China; Corresponding author
Xinyu Zhang
Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei City 230026, China; Xiong’an Institute of Innovation, Xiong’an New Area 071700, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Agrivoltaics (AV) offers a promising solution to address both food and energy crises. However, crop growth under photovoltaic (PV) conditions faces substantial challenges due to insufficient light transmission. We propose a large-scale and cost-effective spectral separated concentrated agricultural photovoltaic (SCAPV) system. The system utilizes concentrator modules, cell components, and dual-axis tracking systems to enhance power conversion efficiency (PCE), achieving a maximum PCE of 11.6%. After three years of successful operation, a 10 kWp power plant achieved an average annual electricity generation exceeding 107 MWh/ha. The results showed higher yields of various crops, including ginger and sweet potatoes, and significant improvements in soil moisture retention compared to open air. The improvements in PCE and microclimate validate the scalability of the SCAPV, which provides better plant conditions and cost-effectiveness, with an estimated cost reduction of 18.8% compared to conventional PV power plant. This study provides valuable insights and directions for improvement in AV.
