Anthropocene Magazine · Climate & nature

Agrivoltaics Cool Crops and Farmworkers, Study Finds

A new computer model simulating agrivoltaics (solar panels on farmland) suggests these systems can significantly cool both crops and farmworkers, offering a potential solution for agriculture in hotter climates.

Researchers at Princeton University developed a computer model to simulate the microclimates under solar panels on farms. The model analyzed air, heat, and moisture movement to assess the impact on crops, panels, and farm laborers. Simulations using data from tomato farms in a typical New Jersey summer showed that tomato leaves could be 1.84 °C to 7.56 °C cooler under solar panels compared to unshaded plants. This shading also reduced water loss from plants by 22.4% daily and from crops and soil by 42.6% daily.

The cooling effect from evapotranspiration also chilled the solar panels themselves by 5.6 °C, potentially reducing heat-related efficiency losses by 15%. Despite receiving 47% less direct sunlight, shaded tomatoes experienced only a 31% decline in photosynthesis, indicating that the benefits of a cooler microclimate can offset reduced sun exposure.

Most notably, the model indicated a significant benefit for farmworkers, with an average temperature decrease of 4.46 °C. Perceived temperatures dropped from 39 °C to around 35 °C in the simulated scenario. The researchers highlight that this improved thermal comfort can enhance workers' health, well-being, and productivity, addressing socio-economic concerns related to heat stress in outdoor labor.

The study emphasizes that agrivoltaic design is not a one-size-fits-all solution and that tools like this model are crucial for testing design ideas before physical implementation. The researchers are open to collaborating with growers and developers to test these concepts on real-world sites.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.