<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-giant-inaugurates-landmark-agrivoltaic-project-combining-modules-with-a-yam-crop-in-japan/>
"Chinese solar PV giant Trina Solar has successfully begun commercial
operations at a new agri-voltaic solar project in Japan that combines solar
modules with a yam crop that thrives in the shade.
The agrivoltaic project is only small – just 2.4 MW – and is located in the
city of Fukuchiyama in Japan’s northern Kyoto Prefecture, but is a
demonstration of the new way of thinking about the use of solar projects and
existing farmland.
The Fukuchiyama project is paired with the cultivation of the Japanese yam,
also known as ebi-imo, a crop native to the region which thrives in shade.
By pairing a solar farm with growing ebi-imo, not only does the project
generate clean energy, but also provides an improved growing environment for
the ebi-imo, as the solar modules reduce soil moisture evaporation and shade.
The solar modules are mounted at a minimum height of 2.35 metres above the
ground, allowing plenty of space for the use of agricultural machinery,
ensuring that agricultural operations can continue unaffected.
Importantly, in a country with severe restrictions on land usage – with
renewable energy projects often losing out to the need for agricultural space –
this agrivoltaic project serves as a proof point for how renewable energy
technologies can be paired effectively with agriculture.
This will be vital as Japan seeks to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The
Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) has predicted that a quarter of
the country’s solar power generation will have to come from agricultural land.
“Trina Solar’s agrivoltaics project in Kyoto stands as a testament to the
viability of this approach, demonstrating how renewable energy can support
other critical industries, such as agriculture, in the pursuit of a net-zero
future,” the company said in a statement."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
