Journal of Solar Energy Research

Studying the Factors Affecting Performance of an Agri-voltaic Plant under 185kWp Conventional Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Power plant in Gurugram, Haryana

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Solar and Alternate Energy Department, Amity University Haryana, Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana, Pin 122412, India

10.22059/jser.2024.374319.1395

Abstract

Agri-voltaic is dual use of land for farming and solar photovoltaic electricity generation thereby increasing productivity of the land. The objective of this paper is to study the feasibility of creating an Agri-voltaic plant under a 185kWp ground mounted solar power plant located in Amity University Haryana near the Aravali Mountain range. The study provides detailed information about the method adapted to convert the wasteland into arable land and presents the feasibility of creating such plants under solar power plant. The study highlights the technical, environmental, social and political challenges associated with this technology and provides possible solutions.
The experimental study showed that converting a conventional solar power plant to Argi-voltaic plant requires proper tilling of barren land on which it is commissioned. Regional plants and some medicinal plants grew well. Wildlife posed threat to the farm and plants like bitter gourd, spinach and coriander could not grow as were eaten away by birds. An average of 718.9 kWh of energy was generated uniformly. Potential barriers for societal diffusion of APV are lack of regulatory policies addressing the land use issues, taxation and subsidies for APV and lack of technical & economical knowledge among stakeholders which requires immediate attention.

Keywords

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Journal of Solar Energy Research
Volume 9, Issue 3
July 2024
Pages 1981-1993