Design and Performance Analysis of Foldable Solar Panel for Agrivoltaics System.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Renewable Energy Systems
• Sustainable Agriculture

Background:

• Agrivoltaics systems (AVS) integrate agriculture and solar energy production.
• Optimizing energy capture and crop cultivation in AVS remains a challenge.
• Existing systems often face limitations in adaptability to environmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a foldable solar panel system with a dynamic tracking algorithm for AVS.
• To assess the system's effectiveness in enhancing energy generation and supporting crop growth.
• To demonstrate improved sustainable land use and food security through innovative AVS design.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a foldable solar panel system with a dynamic tracking algorithm.
• Comparative analysis of foldable panels against fixed panels for energy efficiency.
• Evaluation of microclimate creation and crop growth facilitation under the AVS.

Main Results:

• Foldable panels achieved up to a 15% gain in power generation compared to fixed panels.
• The dynamic tracking algorithm ensured uniform power generation throughout the day.
• The system effectively created beneficial microclimates for diverse crops, despite minor morning/evening shadowing.

Conclusions:

• The foldable solar panel system with dynamic tracking offers significant advantages for agrivoltaics.
• The design enhances both renewable energy production and agricultural sustainability.
• This technology represents a significant advancement in optimizing land use and ensuring food security.