Agri-Voltaic System for Crop Production and Electricity Generation from a Single Land Unit

Renewable energy generation has gained much more importance in India than ever before. Photovoltaic (PV)-based electricity generation shares a major portion of renewable energy generation in India. PV-based electricity generation requires land of about 2 ha per MW of installation. Since both food and energy are required for human civilization to progress, here a concept of integrating PV-based electricity generation and crop production from a single land unit is designed and developed, which is known as agri-voltaic system. Such systems of 105 and 25 kW have been established at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, and its regional station at Bhuj, respectively, with a land requirement of 29 m2 per kW. Rainwater harvesting system from top surface of PV module has been designed and developed. The harvested water is expected to provide supplemental irrigation of 43 mm in 0.76 acre land on which 105 kW system has been established. Suitable crops for agri-voltaic system have been identified, which generally does not attain height not more than 50 cm during its crop growth period. Few of the selected crops are Vigna radiata (moong bean), Vigna aconitifolia (moth bean), Plantago ovata (isabgool), cuminum cyminum (cumin), etc.