Pilot study facilitating simultaneous solar power generation, crop cultivation underway in Telangana Agri varsity
The Hindu
Availability of land is becoming an issue in view of growing urbanisation and construction activity.
A unique pilot study on 'Agri Photovoltaic System,' which is simultaneous use of land for solar energy generation and agricultural crop production has been taken up at the Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) here.
Availability of land is becoming an issue in view of growing urbanisation and construction activity, and the 'Agri Photovoltaic System' would ensure both solar power generation and also cultivation of crops, said Dr Avil Kumar Kodari, Director of Water Technology Centre at PJTSAU.
Agricultural land would be lost with the installation of conventional solar energy plants which shade the ground making cultivation of crops difficult. Coupled with this, the ever-increasing construction activity is resulting in reduced availability of land, he noted.
The solution lies in the 'Agri Photovoltaic System' in which crops can be cultivated underneath the solar panels.
The system would yield two benefits -- solar power generation and also crop cultivation.
Crops like carrot, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli have been selected for the study.
There is a possibility of crop failures in rain-fed cultivation due to frequent droughts and the solar energy generation would be an assured income to the farmers with the expansion of 'agri photovoltaic system' (under such drought conditions).