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Feasibility and Economic Viability of Horticulture Photovoltaics in Paras, Maharashtra, India
Abstract and Figures
In the ongoing energy transition in India, photovoltaic (PV) plays a crucial role which becomes evident when looking at both governmental PV targets and recent developments. While land-neutral roof-top PV accounts for 40% of Indian’s 2022 development goals, with 60% the largest share of all PV technologies is designated for utility-scale ground-mounted PV (GM-PV).
Despite cost-effectiveness speaking in favour of GM-PV, generally, a major drawback of GM-PV is the high land usage with approximately 1.2-1.7 hectare per installed MWp for recently installed systems (Shiva and Sudhakar 2015). This seems particularly relevant in the context of Indian’s high population density and – in several regions – its respective
fierce scarcity of land. Recently, these conflicting interests of land use became apparent at a site in Paras, Akola district in Maharashtra, Western India, where the major power generating company in the state, the Maharashtra State Power Generation Co.
Ltd. (Mahagenco), considered installing a GM-PV system on more than 100 hectare (ha) of fertile agricultural land which today serves as the livelihood of more than 100 farmers and their families.
To seize opportunities of reconciling agricultural activities and PV power generation at the same area of land, Mahagenco and its project investor, the German development bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), requested the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (Fraunhofer ISE) to assess the feasibility of a dual land use to which in the following we refer as Horticulture PV.
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... Usually, the tilted PV panels can optimize the tilt angle based on the annual local solar irradiation [12] [20]. Also, the possibility of deriving the tilt angle of the optimal situation in the critical growth stage for the crop was mentioned by (Elborg 2017) in the manually controlled tracking system cases. ...
... Choosing the appropriate module and technology for the solar panels is still under study, and the emergence of bifacial modules opened the door for comparison between them and monofacial modules. The comprehensive analysis of agrivoltaics in Paras, Maharashtra, India [12] recommended using bifacial solar panels after the practical measurements. The bifacial modules produced 6.4% of electric yield, more than the monofacial modules. ...
... Usually, the tilted PV panels can optimize the tilt angle based on the annual local solar irradiation [12] [20]. Also, the possibility of deriving the tilt angle of the optimal situation in the critical growth stage for the crop was mentioned by (Elborg 2017) in the manually controlled tracking system cases. ...
... Choosing the appropriate module and technology for the solar panels is still under study, and the emergence of bifacial modules opened the door for comparison between them and monofacial modules. The comprehensive analysis of agrivoltaics in Paras, Maharashtra, India [12] recommended using bifacial solar panels after the practical measurements. The bifacial modules produced 6.4% of electric yield, more than the monofacial modules. ...
Agrivoltaic systems have been proposed as the most prominent synergetic application of agricultural and energetic sectors. Integrating solar power generating with agricultural activities is relatively new; however, it has started with implementing the PV panels into the greenhouses. Comparatively, openfield agrivoltaics systems are still growing and under-development in many locations around the world. The urge to explore innovative solutions for the increasing demand for electricity and food has been the main motivation for the research centers, researchers, and governments to escalate agrivoltaics development globally. In this paper, the current and most recent projects and studies of open-field agrivoltaic systems are presented, compared, and analyzed in order to anticipate the potential and path of development for agrivoltaics in the near future. Several pieces of research from different countries globally were included to illustrate the main features and performance indicators of agrivoltaic systems. The paper concludes that the agrivoltaics system has the potential to grow to big-scale projects in different climatic regions because it provides benefits either by increasing the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), protecting the plants from severe ambient weather, and diversifying the income for farmers. New technologies and methods have been integrated with the agrivoltaics systems in different projects to optimize the model; however, many aspects of development could be introduced in the near future.
This article presents an empirical review of research concerning the impact of dust
accumulation on the performance of photovoltaic (PV) panels. After examining the articles published
in international scientific journals, many differences between the studies were found within the
context of the PV technologies used, the contribution to this type of study from different countries,
and the variety in the representation of the results where each study has its unique parameters,
testing equipment, and relevant standards. Due to those variations and differences, it has been found
that it is very difficult and impractical to compare between results of the corresponding studies.
Hence, in addition to the valuable reviews found in literature, this article demonstrates another
new perspective that highlights the gaps in the studies related to the impact of dust accumulation
on PV panels. The conclusions of this study are considered to be the seed for establishing a new
initiative—The Photovoltaic Soiling Index (PVSI)—which would be an indicator for the performance
of PV panels under exposure to dust at the Standard Test Conditions (STC), as well as at other
operating conditions in different locations around the globe.
Banana is well known to be extremely demanding for water and nutrients and supplemental application of these resources are pre-requisites for higher yield. The study was undertaken to assess the effects of fertigation through drip on the growth, yield, quality and economics of banana during 2007–2009. The experiment also aimed to find out a suitable method of planting for banana under drip irrigation system. Twelve treatments comprising two fertilizer sources, three fertilizer levels and two planting systems were attempted. These treatments were compared with surface method of irrigation using conventional fertilizers applied as farmers practice. The results revealed that among the various treatments, 100% dose of water soluble RDNPK and planting spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m with drip fertigation recorded better values for growth characteristics. Banana fruit yield was significantly higher in normal planting (82.86 t/ha) than paired row planting (75.75 t/ha). The fruit yield increased significantly in water soluble fertilizers (81.01 t/ha) as compared to ‘nitrogen (N)’ fertigation (77.59 t/ha) and it also increased significantly with an increase in fertilizer levels (100% fertigation), but high costs of these fertilizers lowered the B:C ratio and net returns as compared to fertigation using conventional fertilizers. The drip irrigation gave 3 to 14.5 percent increase in banana fruit yield and 52 per cent water saving over surface irrigation. The quality of banana fruits was not affected significantly due to any of the treatments.
The interactive influence of climate and management factors on soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield potential has not been investigated in subtropical production environments. Such information can help fine tune current soybean management practices to increase yield and resource‐use efficiency and to minimize risk. The objective of this study was to identify key biophysical and management factors governing variation in soybean yield potential in southern Brazil. To accomplish that objective, we used a large database on soybean yield and phenology collected from a combination of on‐farm and research‐station experiments conducted during four crop growing seasons (2011–2015) in Rio Grande do Sul (southern Brazil). The database portrayed a wide range of weather conditions, soil types, water regimes, sowing dates, and cultivar maturity groups (MGs). Water supply and photothermal quotient explained most of yield variation across site‐years. A boundary function was derived for the relationship between soybean yield and water supply, and an attainable water productivity of 9.1 kg grain ha ⁻¹ mm ⁻¹ . A seasonal water supply of ∼800 mm appeared sufficient to maximize seed yield, and most late‐sown crops fell short of this value. Late‐sown crops were also exposed to a lower photothermal quotient during reproductive stages, and this explained the yield penalty of 26 kg ha ⁻¹ d ⁻¹ of sowing delay after 4 November observed for non‐water‐limited crops. Sowing date, accompanied by proper selection of cultivar MG and determination of soil water status at sowing time, appear to be the most cost‐effective management practices to ensure a high photothermal quotient and low risk of water deficit during reproductive stages and, therefore, a high yield potential in the subtropical environment of southern Brazil.
Core Ideas Water supply and photothermal quotient explained most yield variation across site‐years.
A seasonal water supply of ∼800 mm appeared sufficient to maximize seed yield.
Sowing delay after 4 Nov. decreased yield potential by 26 kg ha ⁻¹ d ⁻¹ .
Tomato seedlings (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. Prigade were transplanted in July, 1994 in a well N fertilized soil which was fertiled with P and K. Shade screen was suspended at 1.5 m above the plants 10 days after transplanting to provide 30% shade. North and south sides were left open to provide good ventilation while the east and west sides were completely covered with the screens. Results showed that shade has a significant effect on main stem length and leaf area but not on leaf number or intercepted Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR). Shade also reduced total dry matter production significantly. Air and leaf temperatures under shade conditions were lower than that of the open field during day time and average 2°C, while it was higher under shade conditions than that of the open field during the night. Data show that applying 30% shade to tomato plants didn't affect fruit yield under the experiment conditions. The results of this work and other works showed that shade didn't affect tomato fruit yield consistently and its use is not justified. Meanwhile, Shade can be used to improve fruit quality such as reducing sun burn.
Temperature increase is among the most important issues associated with climate change. Several studies have shown that the production and quality of vegetable crops can be directly or indirectly affected by high temperature. There are different techniques used to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress as the use of sun shade-cloths inside the greenhouse. Under these conditions, plant response to mineral nutrition can be altered and therefore, studies on the interaction between shading and mineral management are needed in order to optimize crop productivity and quality, avoiding excessive application of fertilizers that could lead to undesirable consequences such as environmental contamination. This study examines the interaction between the effect of shading and increased N doses over the production and nutritional quality in tomato grown under high temperature conditions (maximum day temperatures up 45°C during the fruiting period). Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions in 20L-pots, and irrigated with nutrient solution containing 3, 7 and 14mM N. These treatments were combined with two different shading treaments: non-shaded (control) and shaded plants covered with AOL S40 shadecloth that attenuated approximately 50% of the direct sunlight and reduced temperature about 11°C during the day time. Under non-shade conditions, decreasing N dose produced a decrease of the total fruit yield. However, under shade conditions, the highest total yield was obtained in plants cultivated with 7mM N. In addition, the highest value of mean fruit weight among all the shading and N treatments was obtained under shading + 7mM N treatment. Regards fruit quality, the use of shadecloth led to an increase in fruit lycopene concentration regardless of the N treatment. The results show that N doses should be adjusted when using shading for reducing air temperature in warm climate zones, in order to avoid excessive fertilization.
Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has the potential to diminish solar energy production by direct and indirect radiative forcing as well as by depositing to solar panel surfaces, thereby reducing solar energy transmittance to photovoltaics (PVs). Worldwide solar energy production is expected to increase more rapidly than any other energy source into the middle of this century, especially in regions that experience high levels of dust and/or anthropogenic particulate pollutants, including large areas of India, China, and the Arabian Peninsula. Here we combine field measurements and global modeling to estimate the influence of dust and PM related to anthropogenic sources (e.g. fossil and biomass fuel combustion) on solar electricity generation. Results indicate that solar energy production is currently reduced by ~ 17-25% across these regions, with roughly equal contributions from ambient PM and PM deposited to photovoltaic surfaces. Reductions due to dust and anthropogenic PM are comparable in Northern India, whereas over eastern China anthropogenic PM dominates. Based on current solar generation capacity, PM is responsible for ~780 MW and ~7400 MW of solar power reduction in India and China, respectively, underscoring the large role that PM plays in reducing solar power generation.
The growing energy demand in developing nations has triggered the issue of energy security. This has made essential to utilize the untapped potential of renewable resources. Grid connected PV systems have become the best alternatives in renewable energy at large scale. Performance analysis of these grid connected plants could help in designing, operating and maintenance of new grid connected systems. A 10 MW photovoltaic grid connected power plant commissioned at Ramagundam is one of the largest solar power plants with the site receiving a good average solar radiation of 4.97 kW h/m2/day and annual average temperature of about 27.3 degrees centigrade. The plant is designed to operate with a seasonal tilt. In this study the solar PV plant design aspects along with its annual performance is elaborated. The various types of power losses (temperature, internal network, power electronics, grid connected etc.) and performance ratio are also calculated. The performance results of the plant are also compared with the simulation values obtained from PV syst and PV-GIS software. The final yield (Y F) of plant ranged from 1.96 to 5.07 h/d, and annual performance ratio (PR) of 86.12%. It has 17.68% CUF with annual energy generation of 15 798.192 MW h/Annum.