Sun-tracking mounting structures for agricultural photovoltaics

The Italian company Rem Tec has developed a rotating mounting structure for agricultural photovoltaics which is reportedly ideal for flat surfaces with slopes of up to 3% and is designed to produce dynamic and controlled shading on the ground.

Rem in Italy has developed the Agrovoltaico T2.1 - a 6m mounting structure that can be used for agricultural PV projects, allowing agricultural machinery to pass underneath.

The structure has two vertical poles spaced 14 metres apart and can be equipped with a single- or dual-axis tracking system to produce dynamic and controlled shading on the ground.

A company spokesperson told PV magazine: "The accuracy of the shadow on the ground and its movement increases with the degree of rotation. The control system is able to move the PV modules in different configurations, with the shadow being greatest when the module is perpendicular to the sunlight, but it can also rotate so that the light is fully cast onto the ground, which is particularly important for certain crops during flowering."

The structure's horizontal profile rotates around its axis and can carry four smaller modules mounted perpendicular to the horizontal axis, while they can also rotate around their respective axes, each carrying up to six double panels - up to 24 modules can be mounted on the entire horizontal profile. The row spacing of the solar panels can be switched between 12m and 18m.

"Each horizontal structure can carry between 13 kW and 17 kW of solar modules, meaning a total power of 600 kW to 800 kW per hectare, depending on the rated power of the PV modules, the distance between the rows and the needs of the crop."

RemTec claims that the new structure is ideal for flat surfaces with a maximum slope of 3%.

Our system makes dynamic control of shade possible, which in turn will reduce the irrigation needs of the crops grown below," says the spokesperson. We are also currently developing a single-axis tracker for greater slopes of up to 12%."

Rem Tec is currently conducting extensive research on several crops at different geographical latitudes.

The spokesperson added: "We know that most crops can really benefit from shade, such as lettuce and cabbage, red fruit, grapes, maize etc, while some are affected by environmental conditions and latitude. In general, we design with the needs of the crop in mind and adjust the layout accordingly, for example by changing the shade ratio by changing the row spacing. Our aim is to maintain the average lower limit of crop yield at the same level as open fields, or even higher, within a few years."

The company recently announced plans to work with Portuguese energy company Galp to install a pilot power station at a vineyard in Lisbon.

A spokesperson said, "The new facility will be operational in the first quarter of 2023."