French renewable energy developer launches 'photovoltaic + hydroponic farming' pilot project

The growth of crops grown on hydroponic farms does not depend on soil, but on the use of mineral nutrient solutions in water solvents in greenhouses or enclosed spaces. The project consists of an above-ground cultivation system in which the roots of the plants are grown in pools rich in nutrients of natural and biological origin and in which biological control technology is used.

This hydroponic farm has an area of approximately 250 square metres and is powered by a roof-mounted photovoltaic system with an installed capacity of 9.3 kW, which is equipped with a hydraulic system with two rainwater recovery tanks. Rainwater flowing over the photovoltaic panels is thus collected in a tank, which allows the hydroponic farm to be continuously irrigated by its closed-circuit pumping system and better protects water resources.

The system, which consists of humidity sensors, detectors and pumps, is entirely powered by the photovoltaic system and is designed according to a protocol approved by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).

In a joint statement issued by the two companies, they said: "The prototype of this project has produced very encouraging results in terms of agricultural yields and extension of the production season, particularly with strong wind and frost protection. In addition, it can be installed anywhere, preferably on land with very low agricultural values. The project has no negative impact on the environment and allows for diverse and intensively produced natural crops to be grown in five to 15 times the space."

The next steps for both companies are looking for land for larger projects and hope to demonstrate the same benefits for agricultural production.Céline Spitzhorn, head of Q Energy France's photovoltaic business, says: "This is an ideal for regions that want to promote agricultural jobs while creating a short-term food and energy cycle tool."

A team of Chinese and Qatari researchers recently evaluated the potential of combining photovoltaics with hydroponic farms in greenhouses or enclosed spaces. They examined how multi-cycle, power-intensive hydroponic crop production systems could be coupled with PV systems under different incentives, including feed-in tariff (FIT) schemes, rebate schemes, net metering and improved electricity pricing (IET) mechanisms, as well as simulating various scenarios where tariffs for consumers are increased or existing subsidies are reduced.