S19 - Session O6 - Dynamic agrivoltaics with berry crops

Authors: Bastien Christ *, Matthias Baumann, André Ançay, Christoph Carlen, Gael Nardin, Mathieu Ackermann, Laetitia Anglade, Mathilde Duchemin, Vanina Nicolier

Agrivoltaics are cropping systems that combine production of photovoltaic electricity and agriculture on the same land. The coexistence of solar panels and crops implies sharing of light between these two types of production. As compared to other crops, berries are believed to be particularly compatible with agrivoltaic technologies as they can be partially shaded without large negative impacts on yield and quality. Furthermore, soft fruits cultivated under plastic tunnels without efficient shading systems are suffering from heatwaves in summer that decrease fruit quality and negatively affect yield. Currently, most current agrivoltaic technologies are static and do not allow adjusting light transmission according to plant species, developmental stages and environmental conditions. Here, we present data obtained with strawberries and raspberries grown under a novel type of solar panels developed by Insolight, a Swiss start-up based near Lausanne. Based on optical micro-tracking technology, these solar panels allow dynamic light adjustment while maintaining interesting electrical yield. More than a static photovoltaic installation, this technology is thought of as a tool for farmers, which enables adjustment of the light transmitted to the crops while protecting the plants against rainfalls and other harsh climatic events. A pilot projectdesigned and built by Insolight, Romande Energie and Agroscope, has been operational at the Agroscope site in Conthey (VS, Switzerland) since July 2021. The goals are (1) to define the optimal amount of light (DLI) for each species according to the stage of development and the season (control algorithm), (2) study and quantify the impacts of dynamic shading on plant physiology, yield and fruit quality, and (3) analyze the life cycle (LCA) of small fruit production under dynamic solar panels. These results could pave the way for large-scale, unprecedented solar deployments without additional land take.