Pilot Facilities

Pilot Facilities of PV Covers

In the Sunbiose project, solar coverings above pear trees, raspberries, red berries and strawberries will be installed by Groenleven and measurements on the effect on crop growth, and cropand soil quality will be carried out by Wageningen University & Research.

Strawberries under solar panels

Test batches of strawberries

Preparing the pear orchard before placement of solar panels

Besides fruit covers, land based Agri-PV solutions will also be developed and tested. Solarvation is collaborating with Goldbeck Solar in the MarcS solar arch:

This construction will be combined with grass/clover growth underneath, and crop rotation on adjacent plots. See also www.goldbecksolar.com

EasyFix Solar is investigating the combination of crop growth with solar panels. Several options are under investigation, including vertical bifacial PV and PV covers. 

Photo: Lars Okel, TNO

To enhance both the crop growth, and the solar energy production, Brite Solar Technologies is developing a spectrum shifting coating. Brite has been experimenting with different coating formulations and studying their effect on both the increase of usable light availability for crops and the increase of PV yields. Brite is, together with specialised machine suppliers, realising a full production line for the manufacture of semi-transparent PV modules for Agri-PV applications, allowing fora maximum degree of flexibility regarding their configuration/design.