Dual-Use Land

Agrivoltaic (Agri-PV) and floating photovoltaic (Floating-PV) systems share a common innovation regarding the efficient use of space for solar energy generation, optimizing surfaces not traditionally utilized for this purpose.

Both technologies seek integrated solutions to generate renewable energy without competing directly with other essential activities, such as agriculture.

Furthermore, they share key benefits such as the reduction of water evaporation.

At Fraunhofer Chile, we have the expertise and knowledge to develop these technologies, which are essential for safeguarding water resources and optimizing clean energy generation in a cost-effective manner.

SERVICES

Expand all Close all

Agri PV Services

Potential studies and business models

GIS (Geographic Information System) potential studies.
Development of business models.
Estimation of synergistic potential for agriculture.
Preparation of tender documents.

System design

Assessment of the agricultural context (field visits and documentation).
Conceptualization of preliminary designs.
Simulation of light distribution for design validation.
Techno-economic assessment of preliminary 3D plant designs.

Measurement and Data Analysis

Conceptualization of PV performance and microclimate measurement. Implementation of sensors, data transmission, and database setup.
Performance indicators: Performance ratio, evapotranspiration, and shading rate.

Agri-PV training

Technical, economic, legislative, and social aspects.

Floating PV Services

Potential analysis based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Pre-feasibility study and Digital Twin

Economic feasibility studies

Light and yield simulation

Finite Element Method (FEM) for wind and wave load assessment

Reliability checks specific to Floating-PV

Assessment of leaching and pollutant release

Predictive maintenance

LEARN MORE

Expand all Close all

Agrivoltaic (Agri-PV)

Agri-PV (or agrivoltaic) systems combine agricultural production with solar energy generation by installing photovoltaic panels over farmland.

This technology maximizes land use by enabling the coexistence of both activities within the same space. This approach not only increases land-use efficiency but also provides shade and reduces water evaporation. These features benefit crops in water-scarce areas and contribute to the resilience of agricultural systems against extreme weather conditions.

Photovoltaic panels can be integrated into agriculture using different methods. Elevated mounting structures allow farming operations to continue beneath the panels, while vertically installed modules enable farming between the rows.

In 2020, Fraunhofer ISE estimated a total global installed capacity of 14 GWp for agrivoltaics, with the majority of installations located in Asia (China, Japan, Korea) and Europe (France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands). Further information regarding the current status and technological developments can be found in the Agrivoltaics Guide (EN) published by Fraunhofer ISE.

Floating PV

Floating PV is a solar panel system designed with the same components as ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. The primary difference lies in the installation method: the panels are mounted on a platform that floats on water bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, ponds, or even the ocean.

Beyond its potential to generate clean energy from the sun, this technology also mitigates water evaporation. Research indicates that Floating PV can reduce water evaporation by up to 80%.

Simultaneously, the water provides a cooling effect on the PV panels, lowering their operating temperature by 5°C to 10°C on hot, sunny days. This thermal regulation significantly boosts electrical generation efficiency.

Furthermore, Floating PV contributes to improving energy access in rural areas. It avoids land-use conflicts between agricultural activities and solar energy generation—a sector that typically requires approximately 10 m² of surface area to generate 1 MWh of energy.

Although Floating PV is an innovative concept, it has rapidly evolved into a mature and reliable technology with large-scale commercial application. Following the first project of its kind in Japan in 2007, it took only six years to reach the installation of the first Floating PV plant with a 1 Megawatt (MW) capacity. Current estimates project that the global installed capacity of Floating PV systems will exceed 4.8 GW by 2026.