Articles
Effects of above-canopy photovoltaic arrays on transpiration and energy production in a pear orchard
Article number
1409_12
Pages
79 – 86
Language
English
Abstract
Agrivoltaics is a new approach to integrate photovoltaic arrays and agricultural crops on the same land unit to simultaneously protect crops from direct solar irradiance and harness solar energy.
This study evaluated the effects of shading cast by photovoltaic arrays on transpiration of pear trees and on energy production.
Two configurations of static photovoltaic arrays oriented 45° West (45W) and 5° West (5W) were installed above the tree canopies and compared to an unshaded treatment (control). The experiment was conducted in summer 2021-22 at the Tatura SmartFarm (Goulburn Valley, Victoria, Australia) in an experimental ‘ANP-0118’ orchard – a blush pear marketed as Lanya™. Different growth stages were considered: a) rapid vegetative growth (49-93 DAFB), b) rapid fruit growth (94-124 DAFB), c) preharvest (125-140 DAFB), and d) postharvest (141-168 DAFB). Transpiration was measured by sap flow sensors using the heat pulse velocity method.
Diurnal dynamics of transpiration showed that control and 5W trees attained maximum transpiration in late afternoon, between 1500 to 1700 h AEST. The transpiration of 5W trees dipped around solar noon due to the shade cast by the photovoltaic arrays.
The shade cast by the 45W arrays caused a decline in the transpiration around 1500 h AEST, before a transpiration reduction occurred in the control and 5W treatments.
The 5W configuration outperformed the 45W arrays with 1.8 MWh greater energy production during the study period of 119 days in the former.
This research indicated that above-canopy photovoltaic arrays can be effective to mitigate water loss of ‘ANP-0118’ pears.
This study evaluated the effects of shading cast by photovoltaic arrays on transpiration of pear trees and on energy production.
Two configurations of static photovoltaic arrays oriented 45° West (45W) and 5° West (5W) were installed above the tree canopies and compared to an unshaded treatment (control). The experiment was conducted in summer 2021-22 at the Tatura SmartFarm (Goulburn Valley, Victoria, Australia) in an experimental ‘ANP-0118’ orchard – a blush pear marketed as Lanya™. Different growth stages were considered: a) rapid vegetative growth (49-93 DAFB), b) rapid fruit growth (94-124 DAFB), c) preharvest (125-140 DAFB), and d) postharvest (141-168 DAFB). Transpiration was measured by sap flow sensors using the heat pulse velocity method.
Diurnal dynamics of transpiration showed that control and 5W trees attained maximum transpiration in late afternoon, between 1500 to 1700 h AEST. The transpiration of 5W trees dipped around solar noon due to the shade cast by the photovoltaic arrays.
The shade cast by the 45W arrays caused a decline in the transpiration around 1500 h AEST, before a transpiration reduction occurred in the control and 5W treatments.
The 5W configuration outperformed the 45W arrays with 1.8 MWh greater energy production during the study period of 119 days in the former.
This research indicated that above-canopy photovoltaic arrays can be effective to mitigate water loss of ‘ANP-0118’ pears.
Authors
R. Singh, A. Scalisi, L. McClymont, I. Goodwin
Keywords
agrivoltaics, evapotranspiration, heat pulse velocity, Pyrus communis, shading, solar panels, water use
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