The Adventist University of Chile (UnACh) is spearheading an innovative and sustainable project called the Agro-Photovoltaic System (AgroPv). Led by the Faculty of Engineering and Business, this project has a dual purpose: generating electrical energy using solar radiation and developing fruit orchards under photovoltaic panel structures.

The project, funded by the Innovation Fund for Competitiveness of the Regional Government of Ñuble, focuses on producing cherries and strawberries using semi-transparent solar panels. These panels allow light to pass through to the crops underneath. This technology aims to reduce production costs, improve sustainability, and enhance quality and yield.

Shared Benefits

“This project seeks to create a synergy between agricultural systems and photovoltaic systems,” says Victor Pizarro, project director. “The crop benefits because we avoid sunburn and excess radiation; there is also an increase in the efficiency of water use. On the other hand, the panels also benefit because having a crop underneath creates a cooler environment, and that benefits the panels,” he said.

One of the main benefits is the use of solar photovoltaic energy for decarbonizing energy, which could lead to a 100% reduction in energy costs. This also helps to protect agriculture because the panels are elevated at a height of 4.5 meters, shielding them from weather events like frost, hail, sunstroke, and heavy rain, thereby significantly reducing the loss of fruit.

Unique in the World

The panels used in this project are made of semi-transparent glass, which helps reduce contamination in the fruits, making it a unique solution worldwide. Jorge Retamal, a researcher in fruit growing at the Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) Quilamapu, explains that the proposed roof structure for cherry trees offers significant advantages. Unlike current plastic roofs, the glass panels aim to minimize microplastic contamination in the fruits we consume, demonstrating a commitment to both health and environmental care.

Tour in Europe

Dr. Victor Pizarro, along with important representatives of the agricultural sector in the Ñuble region, participated in a technological tour of Europe, organized by UnACh, which allowed them to visit various pioneering agro-photovoltaic projects in fruit crops in Switzerland, Germany, and Spain, to learn about the potential of applying these systems in the agricultural industry.

The development of this project has led UnACh to open its doors to other educational institutions and farmers in the region so that they can learn about the progress of this project first-hand, and through workshops, talks and seminars, educate and raise awareness about the benefits of integrating renewable energies; thus linking with the public and private sectors.

The original article was published on the South American Divison Spanish website.