Agrivoltaic Pilot Site

The system covers about 3,000 square meters of apple orchards arranged over 13 rows and has an installed capacity of around 70 kilowatts peak – enough to meet the average electricity needs of approximately 20 households. The installation includes three distinct sections with panels featuring varying degrees of transparency, placed over two types of orchards – with either wider or narrower spacing between the rows.

The height at which the panels were installed was the most significant technological challenge in designing the system. The rotation axis of the panels is positioned 4.80 meters above the ground, a height calculated to avoid obstructing the growth of the apple trees and agricultural operations. The structures, produced by Convert Italia/Valmont Solar, were tested in a wind tunnel to ensure resistance to weather conditions, particularly the sail effect of the panels during strong winds. The material chosen was corten steel, also known as weathering steel, both for its resistance to atmospheric agents and for its color, which blends harmoniously with the orchard structures.

The system is equipped with an advanced monitoring setup. Sensors and instruments installed at various points measure parameters such as solar radiation useful for photosynthesis, soil and air temperature and humidity, and wind speed and direction. The orchard’s agricultural production will also be closely monitored: particular attention will be paid to tree growth, flowering, the quantity and quality of the yield, and the water requirements of the plants.

The system has been founded by the European project Symbiosyst, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, brings together 16 partners from across Europe and will run for four years. In addition to the installation built in Bolzano, the project includes the construction of two other pilot systems: one in Barcelona, on fruit and vegetable crops, and one in the Netherlands, above a greenhouse. These case studies will allow the project team to assess electricity production and its potential for local reuse in various contexts: to meet the energy needs of an energy community, an industrial area, a fruit and vegetable consortium, or the farm itself.