France’s ‘agrovoltaic’ PV installations aim to improve animal health and crop yields

Iberdrola will build four so-called ‘agrovoltaic’ PV projects in France totalling 12MW, after a renewable energy innovation tender launched by the French Ministry for the Energy Transition.
The 20-year contracts for difference (CfDs) awarded were priced above the market value to compensate for the prioritisation of caring for agriculture and livestock farming, rather than maximising the plant’s production.
The French tender was launched for a total of 140MW under two different categories: ground-mounted installations of 0.5-3MW and rooftop facilities on barns, greenhouses or car parks, sized at 0.1- 3 MW. In total, 30 ground-mounted and 36 rooftop projects were awarded contracts.
Iberdrola’s won their bid and obtained the maximum capacity of 3 MW. Framed within the ground-mounted category, they contemplate two different solutions. The first of these, called Kirch, is aimed at improving animal welfare and the pastures used to feed the cattle where the panels are located, in order to increase the quality of dairy products from organic farming. The panels are placed at a minimum height of 1.5m so cows can shelter under them, and each panel is equipped with an intelligent system that allows rainwater to be collected during the winter period, stored in a tank and filtered, and then used in the hot season to irrigate the pasture. This will alleviate heat stress in cattle and pastures, which affects milk production and quality. The system is able to predict the water needs of the pasture and activate the smart irrigation system when necessary.
The other three projects, Maubec, Lapenche and Solomiac, aim to maximise crop production on the land. Instead of tracking the sun to maximise electricity production, the single-axis trackers are rotated to protect the crops from frost in winter or intense sunshine in summer to improve the quality of the crop. The panels are strategically positioned to allow tractors to pass between rows and allow for complementary crops such as cereals and oilseeds.
Elsewhere, Iberdrola’s cleantech venture capital arm, Perseo, has commissioned Winesolar, a smart agrovoltaic site in Spain where solar panels use sensors and artificial intelligence to regulate a vineyard’s exposure to sunlight and its temperature.