Optimization of Agrivoltaic Plants: Development and Validation of a Numerical Model to Account for Shading Effects on Crop Yields

Agrivoltaic systems are becoming increasingly popular as a relevant technology for the achievement of sustainable development goals, such as clean energy and mitigation of climate changes, by providing a significant economic advantage for farms. Understanding the effects of shading on crops is crucial for the selection of an optimal agrivoltaic system able to guarantee minimum loss in agricultural yields. In this study, an innovative numerical procedure is proposed for the evaluation of the dynamic performances of agrivoltaic plants with different configurations: fixed vertical structure, fixed with modules inclined by 30° and tracking on a single axis. A parametric analysis is conducted to determine the optimal solution from the techno-economic point of view when serving a farm operating in the South of Italy. The three solutions are optimized by varying the size of the storage system in such a way to minimize the investment cost and maximize savings (and self-consumed energy). An innovative aspect of the present work is represented by the evaluation of the shading influence of the PV panels on the underlying crops. This influence is determined by developing an in-house numerical model capable of evaluating the shadows casted on the ground, once the geometry of the structure is defined, and the consequent reduction of incident radiation on the ground with the relative change in crop yield. The results in terms of incident radiation reduction showed an accuracy very similar to that evaluated through the commercial PVsyst® software. The solution emerged as optimal after the study is the plant configuration exhibiting a one-axis tracking system.