Bifacial Panels for Agrivoltaics and Crop Influence: Expected Benefits

The expansion of large photovoltaic solar energy plants makes land use a topic that arouses growing interest. When that land has agricultural or even livestock or forestry uses, maintaining the main use is an objective [1] that is increasingly considered mandatory in different countries. When the panels are not always optimally oriented for energy generation, which can happen in an agrivoltaic system to benefit the photoperiod of the crop and its phenological stage, bifacial panels can compensate or even improve the energy yield while increasing the amount of solar radiation reaching the crop, compared to monofacial photovoltaic modules. The study of the influence of the crop on the light reflected (albedo) on both sides of the bifacial panels, contributes to a better understanding of the possible applications of this type of panels in agrivoltaic systems, optimizing both electrical production and the agricultural use. This work presents the experiments carried out in an agrivoltaic plant located in Evora (Portugal), to determine the influence of light reflected by vegetation on the back face of bifacial solar panels.