Researchers make stunning discovery while testing crops grown under solar panels — here’s how it could change how we grow food – The Cool Down
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Excerpt:
A team of researchers at the University of Córdoba in Spain discovered a way for solar energy generation and crop production to coexist on the same land without competing for resources.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, researchers tested a model that integrates solar collectors with hedgerow olive plantations. The mission: to produce solar energy without disrupting crop production. In theory, solar panels would generate electricity while the olives grow below them. This model is known as agrivoltaics, a technique that balances solar energy generation with food production on the same land.
The results were promising. Using simulation models, the scientists found that combining photovoltaic plants with olive plantations boosted overall productivity. The solar panels provided shade and wind protection for the crops, increasing agricultural yields. At the same time, the plants’ natural evapotranspiration cooled the solar panels, improving their efficiency.
If the technology is commercialized, farmers can simultaneously produce solar energy and crops without compromising either. It’s a win-win strategy that shows how land can be optimized for multiple uses.