{"id":256,"date":"2025-11-06T10:07:42","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horizonfirm.com\/\/?p=256"},"modified":"2025-11-06T15:24:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T15:24:23","slug":"lagrivoltaico-a-v-sperimentazione-italiana-che-imita-la-natura","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horizonfirm.com\/en\/news\/lagrivoltaico-a-v-sperimentazione-italiana-che-imita-la-natura\/","title":{"rendered":"The 'V-shaped' agri-voltaic, an Italian experiment imitating nature"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the coming years, several gigawatts of agrivoltaic systems are expected to be installed in Italy.\nHowever, to qualify for incentives that offset their higher costs, these systems must meet strict\nrequirements.<\/p>\n

They must, above all, not occupy more than 30% of the total area, have modules mounted high\nenough to allow passage of agricultural machinery and livestock, and enable continued agricultural\nproduction without excessive crop shading.<\/p>\n

These requirements reduce the overall productivity of an agrivoltaic system compared to a standard\nground-mounted solar plant, while increasing costs for the support structures (in some cases\ninstalled up to 4 meters high). The control of tracking systems following the sun also becomes more\ncomplex<\/p>\n

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To address this challenge, two main types of agrivoltaic systems are emerging<\/p>\n

The first type uses fixed vertical bifacial panels arranged in north\u2013south rows. These systems are\ncheaper, take up little space, cast minimal shade, and provide a longer daily production curve\u2014\nhigher output in the morning and late afternoon (advantageous for selling electricity at better\nprices). However, at southern latitudes, where the sun rises higher, their yield is lower than in\nCentral and Northern Europe.<\/p>\n

The second type uses north\u2013south single-axis trackers that follow the sun from east to west with\ntwo rows of panels, generating roughly 25\u201330% more power than fixed modules. These\ninstallations must be elevated and spaced out to avoid interfering with crops.<\/p>\n

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Engineer Christian Chiaruzzi, founder of the startup Horizonfirm srl, which specializes in\nphotovoltaic installations, has designed and patented a concept that combines the benefits of\ntracking systems and vertical panels, adapting the latter to the sunlight typical of southern latitudes.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe want to build a solar system for agrivoltaics using bifacial panels mounted in a V-shape, with\nthe vertex supported by a north\u2013south tracker similar to conventional ones, but with panels\narranged in a line,\u201d explains Chiaruzzi. \u201cThe two arms of the V can move independently, opening\nand closing between roughly 35\u00b0 and 90\u00b0.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The idea came to Chiaruzzi from observing how many plant sprouts have two leaves arranged in a\nV, capable of photosynthesis on both sides and of adjusting their orientation according to the sun\u2019s\nposition.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSince nature optimizes structural efficiency through millions of years of selection, I thought\nimitating it in an agrivoltaic solar plant could bring significant advantages\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Among these advantages: V-shaped panels obstruct agricultural machinery less, eliminating the\nneed for high mounting\u2014two meters of clearance is sufficient. This configuration also reduces\nground shading by about 50% compared to horizontal panels, allowing for more rows in the field\nwithout reducing agricultural output.<\/p>\n

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The challenge lies in managing the inclination of the two independent panels throughout the day,\nfinding a balance between maximizing solar output (which requires full exposure) and maintaining\nagricultural productivity (which requires limiting shading).<\/p>\n

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\u201cAdditionally,\u201d notes Chiaruzzi, \u201cthe V configuration introduces another complexity: panels often\nreflect light onto each other, making it harder to calculate the ideal angle between them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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This complex optimization was addressed by Professor Valerio Lo Brano and Engineer Stefania\nGuarino from the University of Palermo.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe developed a mathematical model using the Python programming language, which offers\npowerful tools for research calculations,\u201d explains Lo Brano, who published the results in Applied\nEnergy under the title \u2018Modelling and analysis of V-shaped bifacial PV systems for agrivoltaic\napplications: A Python-based approach for energy optimization\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cIt was a very challenging task,\u201d Lo Brano continues, \u201cbecause of the infinite possible positions of\nthe two panels, the infinite solar positions, the complex mutual shading and illumination of the four\npanel surfaces, the internal reflections within the V, and the need to minimize ground shading.\nEventually, we succeeded, creating an innovative and versatile tool for evaluating photovoltaic\nsystem performance and control algorithms.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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According to the model, a V-pair of 665 W bifacial panels can generate 2,089.3 kWh\/year at\nPalermo\u2019s latitude\u2014about 15% less than a conventional single-axis tracker, but with 50% less\nground shading.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis result also comes from the fact that the V-shape better exploits the bifacial effect, exposing\nthe rear sides more,\u201d adds Guarino. \u201cSince bifacial panels generate nearly equal energy on both\nsides and cost almost the same as monofacial ones, our configuration fully leverages their\npotential.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The Palermo team\u2019s work is only a first step. Lo Brano explains:<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe analyzed only the configuration called Vertigo, in which the V always points upward, with\nvariable opening angles. But there is also the Butterfly configuration, where the V follows the sun\u2019s\npath throughout the day, adjusting the panel opening in each row to avoid shading the next one. It\nis theoretically more productive but also more complex to model. That will be the subject of our\nnext publication.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Meanwhile, Chiaruzzi is already preparing a field test.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn collaboration with Trina Solar and Huawei, we\u2019ll start building a 1 MW agrivoltaic plant near\nPiazza Armerina this summer. Alongside conventional tracker rows, we\u2019ll install two rows of Vpanel trackers to test different control algorithms and compare their performance directly\u201d says the\nstartup founder.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The plant is expected to start generating power by autumn, revealing whether this Italian innovation\ncan indeed combine the advantages of tracking and vertical solar designs.<\/p>\n

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A question remains: won\u2019t independently moving the two arms of each V double the cost of the\ntracking mechanism and increase maintenance compared to a conventional single-axis tracker?<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d admits Chiaruzzi, \u201cbut we\u2019re confident that using less structural material\u2014since our\nsystems are lower\u2014and achieving better agricultural integration thanks to reduced shading will\nmore than offset that disadvantage. In any case, within a few months, we\u2019ll have concrete\nproduction data from the V-shaped agrivoltaic system.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Sources cited in the PDF:<\/strong><\/p>\n