Impact of agrivoltaic systems on crop microclimate in France

Renewable energy developers are highlighting the co-benefits of agrivoltaic systems for energy production and crop production. To quantify these co-benefits, an essential step is to understand the impact of photovoltaic structures on the micro-climate provided to the crop. This study investigates the impact of a tracking agrivoltaic structure, referred to as a canopy, on local micro-climate over a nine-year period. This presentation highlights the first-year results at four sites commissioned in France. Micro-climate monitoring includes 15min data for air and soil temperature and humidity, wind speed, irradiation, and precipitation for each site. These measurements are taken under the canopy and on a control plot adjacent to the plant. The differences between the canopy and the control micro-climates are analysed, with a particular focus on quantifying the adaptation potential of the canopy for crops regarding climate change. Hydro-meteorological indicators are also studied, in order to understand more precisely the impact of micro-climate on crops. The following observations were made :

• The canopy mitigated extreme air temperatures by an average of -2°C and +1.5°C for respectively extreme high and low temperatures. It reduced soil temperatures by an average of 1°C during summer hot days;
• Evapotranspiration decreased under the canopy, while air moisture levels were, on average, 1% higher than in the control plot;
• Sharing light resources under the canopy is a major challenge especially for specific phenological stages of the crop. Adaptations of tracking angles are considered to combine the protective effect of the structures with the crops' need for light at these stages. To implement such adaptations, modelling tools are developped, including irradiance model. Caracterization of the irradiance models regarded to the in-situ measurments is presented.

This study determines that agrivoltaic systems such as canopies can increase the resilience of agricultural systems, notably by absorbing shocks due to extrem events. This can only be true if we think of a synergistic tracking system that optimizes food and energy productions. At that condition, those systems then have the capacity to grow a farm’s sustainability regarding climate change and economic swings.