Conference Agenda

The deployment of agrivoltaic systems (AgriPV) in Germany has accelerated in recent years, driven by policy incentives supporting dual land use for agricultural production and renewable energy generation. While AgriPV provides ecological and economic benefits, the integration of elevated photovoltaic modules into cropping systems affects machine mobility, field logistics, and operational efficiency. This study examines how key AgriPV design parameters influence mechanized field operations and labor performance on representative German farms.

Data were collected through field observations, machine movement analyses, and performance measurements. The evaluation addressed three dimensions: (1) physical constraints related to module height, support spacing, and row configuration; (2) operational impacts on effective field capacity, machine utilization, turning time, and overlap; and (3) organizational implications, including scheduling flexibility, labor demand, and the integration of specialized machinery.

Results show that AgriPV can reduce effective field capacity depending on crop type, implement width, row spacing, and support density. Large machinery and operations requiring frequent turning are most affected, while linear tasks such as seeding and fertilization are less constrained when system geometry matches standard equipment. Optimized layouts, adjusted support spacing, improved logistics, and robotic solutions can substantially enhance mechanization under AgriPV conditions.

This study evaluates the integration of bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules mounted on a solar tracking system installed inside a greenhouse in terms of energy production and greenhouse microclimate. The experiment was conducted in four greenhouse compartments. The configuration included a control compartment (no-PVs, no-shading screen) and (a) a PVs-equipped one with solar tracking and (b) a PVs-equipped one without solar tracking, and (d) no-PVs but shading screen deployment. Measurements included PV energy yield, Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) transmission, and inside-ambient temperature difference under natural ventilation or evaporative cooling modes. PAR transmission was 0.66 in control, 0.33 with screens, 0.34 with PVs, and 0.17 under combined PV and screen shading, while PAR transmission was similar between tracking and fixed position. Deployment of the shading screen installed below the PVs increased energy production by 10% due to light reflectance. Solar tracking increased energy yield by 14% over fixed positioning on high solar radiation conditions, whereas performance slightly declined on cloudy days. Thermo-hygrometric conditions remained similar across compartments regardless of PV shading, during ventilation and cooling hours. The results provide insights into light availability and PV energy yield in Mediterranean agrivoltaic systems and may serve for optimizing greenhouse resource use efficiency.

Agrivoltaic systems are increasingly being explored as a strategy to combine energy production with agricultural land use. However, their effects on crops remain insufficiently studied. This study evaluates the response of broccoli grown under an experimental agrivoltaic platform in Barcelona (Spain). It consists of photovoltaic (PV) modules mounted on structures with solar tracking and varying levels of light transmittance. To analyze crop development, the field experiment was organized into three main sections: full sun (control), shade with translucent PV panels (40% light transmittance), and shade under opaque PV panels (5% transmittance). Performance was monitored by measuring plant size and biomass production throughout the entire growing cycle. It was observed that the PV modules might be causing measurable differences in morphology and weight. This could be due to the distribution of radiation and the local microclimate generated. Despite this, the broccoli showed an ability to adapt to the modified light conditions, maintaining relatively stable growth in the early stages of development. These results highlighted the importance of continuing to specifically evaluate different types of crops and times of year when designing agri-PV systems. This research provides initial evidence of the feasibility of integrating horticultural crops with solar panels in Mediterranean environments.

Agrivoltaic systems offer an innovative solution for simultaneously generating renewable energy, supporting crop production, and enhancing climate resilience in agricultural systems. Rainwater harvesting has emerged as a sustainable strategy to address water scarcity and improve irrigation efficiency under changing climatic conditions. This study investigates the integration of rainwater harvesting within agrivoltaic infrastructures using Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling to analyze rainfall behavior, water collection efficiency, and hydraulic performance under different structural configurations. A three dimensional CFD model was developed to simulate rainfall interaction with elevated photovoltaic panels, incorporating aerodynamic effects, panel inclination, runoff generation, wind driven rain distribution, and water conveyance toward storage systems. Different panel geometries, tilt angles, and rainfall intensities were evaluated to assess their impact on water capture and microclimatic conditions. Results showed that optimized panel inclination significantly improved rainwater collection while reducing losses from splash, wind drift, and uneven runoff. Agrivoltaic structures also modified airflow patterns, reduced soil evaporation, and enhanced water conservation. The integrated system demonstrated potential for renewable electricity generation, microclimate regulation, and supplemental irrigation. The proposed CFD framework supports the design of next generation agrivoltaic systems, improving resource efficiency, drought resilience, and sustainability in arid and semi arid agricultural regions.

Energy Management Systems (EMS) are increasingly recognized as a key factor in smart energy distribution for on-farm electricity production and operations. Priorities are set for different machines and devices, such as the milk tank, milking robots, charging passenger vehicles and electric machinery, or storing energy in batteries for later use, reducing fossil fuel dependency. This works well for on-farm operations, but for field operations, new concepts and energy pathways must be considered. Therefore, this study evaluates the suitability of market-ready and developmental alternative energy technologies for light- and heavy-duty field operations.

Electricity has become the key alternative for Gasoline- or Diesel-powered vehicles in recent years. For agricultural machinery, battery-electric (fixed or interchangeable system), fuel-cell-electric, or hybrid-electric machines are viable for heavy-duty operations, but each has its own disadvantages in terms of energy density, efficiency, or weight. Compared to that, hydrogen- or methane-combustion machines might be a more familiar solution, as handling and refilling gases is already more widely available today. The comparison shows that for different tasks, different power sources will be necessary, each with its own strengths. As in on-farm operations, electricity will play a major role, and an EMS forms the center of smart and scheduled energy distribution.