Energy: Agrivoltaic, reference practice published

Identifying the necessary requirements for a photovoltaic system to be defined as an “agrivoltaic system”, indicating the conditions for its optimal integration into the landscape, in accordance with current guidelines, are the contents and objectives of the reference practice^[1] developed as part of a collaboration among ENEA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, REM TEC and UNI (Italian Standardization Body) to encourage energy generation from renewable sources, in line with European Union directives, promote agricultural production, protect the landscape and reduce soil consumption.

Thanks to the long-standing know-how and skills at its Casaccia and Portici Research Centers,  ENEA has supported the definition of photovoltaic system technologies, in light of the most recent developments of commercial cells and modules, particularly silicon ones. To objectively evaluate agrivoltaic compared to other solutions, ENEA is committed to identifying methods of monitoring agrivoltaic systems, with particular attention to the production and management of data for both production activities. It also defined techniques for integrating agrivoltaic systems into the landscape, using the most recent innovations in land analysis.

“Agrivoltaics represents a solution to combine energy production by means of photovoltaic systems and agricultural; however, to date, the agrivoltaic systems installed do not meet established criteria and this makes it difficult to monitor their performance over time and evaluate costs and benefits", pointed out Girolamo Di Francia, head of the Digital, Photovoltaic and Sensor Applications Development Laboratory at the ENEA Portici Research Center. “In this context, the new UNI/PdR 148 practice can provide a valid point of reference by referring to ministerial guidelines^[2] and, as has already happened in other countries, suggest standards and practices for the construction of agrivoltaic systems to standardize their implementation and allow to control production of both power and agricultural products".