Enhancing Land Utilization: Off-Grid Agrivoltaic Farm Simulated for Hydrogen Production Across Multiple Countries
Key Ideas
  • Researchers at the University of Exeter simulated a 1 GW agrivoltaic facility in locations across the globe to produce hydrogen fuel for electric vehicles.
  • The study found tomatoes to be the most suitable crop to be grown under the solar panels, with potential hydrogen levelised costs ranging from $6.05/kg to $12.61/kg.
  • The analysis considered factors like land equivalent ratio, financial viability, and agricultural yield losses, showing that combining off-grid agrivoltaics with hydrogen generation can provide additional income.
  • Aritra Gosh, the lead author, highlighted the benefits of land recovery and increased harvest days, emphasizing that all locations analyzed showed suitability for agrivoltaic applications.
Researchers at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom conducted a study simulating a 1 GW agrivoltaic farm to generate hydrogen for electric vehicles in various locations worldwide, such as Australia, California, China, Nigeria, and Spain. The study focused on the technical and economic feasibility of producing hydrogen with agrivoltaics. It considered a 1 GW off-grid agrivoltaic facility with proton exchange membrane electrolysers, converter systems, compressors, and storage systems to fuel hydrogen fuel electric cell vehicles. The research concluded that tomatoes were the most suitable crop to be grown under the solar panels. The analysis included a techno-economic evaluation, showing that the proposed combination could offer a levelised cost of hydrogen ranging from $6.05/kg to $12.61/kg. Additionally, the study considered factors like land equivalent ratio, financial viability, and agricultural yield losses, suggesting that the combination of off-grid agrivoltaics with hydrogen generation could enhance land utilization and generate additional income. Aritra Gosh, the lead author, highlighted that the Australian site had the highest number of hydrogen fueling per year, demonstrating financial viability. Moreover, the study indicated that tomatoes were selected due to their suitability in various soil types. Gosh emphasized the benefits of land recovery, increased harvest days, and additional income from electricity generation, offsetting reduced harvest yields. The findings of the research support the viability of combining off-grid agrivoltaics with hydrogen generation as a model for enhancing land utilization. The study showcased the financial potential of the Australian site and highlighted the suitability of all locations for agrivoltaic applications, promoting a sustainable approach to energy production and agriculture.
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