Nearly three hectares of photovoltaic panels installed above the fruit trees of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes fruit experiment station in Étoile-sur-Rhône. The objective is to know if the production of electricity and the production of fruit are reconcilable.
The development of the fruit trees of the two plots examined
– Lucile Auconie
Under the solar panels, the thermometer reads two degrees less than the control plot. The rays of the sun can burn the epidermis of the fruits.
– Lucile Auconie
Less need for irrigation under the solar panels
While almost the entire department of Drôme has passed in “crisis” level the maximum level of drought alert and the restrictions of water use are reinforced, these solar panels have another advantage: there is less need to water the trees.
A significant solution, especially when the fruits reach maturity in August. At this time, peaches need a lot of water.
Cécile Magherini is the deputy director of Sun’Agri, the company that sold the solar panels to the farm. She explains : “shading the crops when the temperatures are very high reduces evapotranspiration on the leaves. A plant that transpires less needs less water. Thanks to its panels, we are saving 30% in terms of irrigation. Agrivoltaic techniques are responses to high heat.“
– Lucile Auconie
Trees can’t stand extreme heat and go dormant when temperatures rise. The operation hopes that this system will allow harvest larger fruits.
Fruits analyzed during harvest
The first results will be known in the fall. The harvest should start in mid-August. On both plots, the marketable weight will be compared with the weight of waste (rotten fruit). The quality of the production will be analysed: sugar level, coloring, epidermis, etc.
Already nine sites in France have adopted an agrivoltaic system, including a cherry farm in Loriol-sur-Drôme. Solar panels installed on the Etoile sur Rhône experimental farm supply electricity to around 2,500 households in the municipality.