Photovoltaic Panel System with Optical Dispersion of Solar Light for Greenhouse Agricultural Applications

This paper presents an innovative design of a photovoltaic panel system for agricultural applications, particularly in regions prone to drought and extreme temperatures, known as Agri-PV. The proposed solution utilizes optical elements of divergent lens types to illuminate the ground beneath photovoltaic panels in greenhouse or indoor controlled cultivation areas. The Agri-PV solution improves the ratio between the area occupied by the photovoltaic panels and the total cultivated area therefore the land under the photovoltaic panels is fully cultivable, produces clean electricity that can be used in the agricultural process, reduces solar energy at the ground level up to 16 times, reducing water evaporation from the ground diminishing the summer-extreme temperatures effect on crops. With an optimal vertical layout of the optical lens PV system, areas of minimum illumination can be overlapped to provide a more uniform and consistent light intensity at ground level. The overall illumination uniformity is important for maximizing energy efficiency and maintaining optimal growing conditions in agrivoltaics applications.