SolarEdge, Scania County team up to test agri-PV in Swedish setting

Israel-based photovoltaic inverters and smart energy solutions supplier SolarEdge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SEDG) has partnered with Scania Regional Council in southern Sweden to explore the potential of agrivoltaics (agri-PV) in Swedish conditions.

The parties entered into a collaboration agreement aiming to set up an experimental plant to investigate the effectiveness of agri-PV in Swedish environment and examine the impact of solar system design on both crop and solar power production, SolarEdge said on Tuesday.

The search is currently on for a suitable site that will accommodate the experimental facility. According to SolarEdge, the partners plan to apply three solar panel mounting methods -- vertical mounting of landscape panels, vertical mounting of upright panels, and mounting on trackers that follow the sun's movement. SolarEdge's inverter solution will also be tested to assess its ability to increase energy production in agri-PV installations, the company said.

“In Scania County, we have a high demand for land use, with food production being very important. We want to find new ways to use the land in the most efficient way," commented Tove Zellman at Scania Regional Council, who is also the project manager for the trial.

Furthermore, the partnership will aim to disseminate knowledge and suggestions on managing the conflict between food production and solar energy on farmland in Scania County, Zellman said.

"There are many innovative ways to install solar that will have a positive impact on agricultural production. For example, solar panels can be elevated, so that the crops can fit underneath, providing protection from the effects of wind, heavy rainfall and vast exposure to the sun while also helping to maintain soil moisture. However, unlocking this potential relies on having the right technology in place,” added Daniel Sjödin, SolarEdge's Country Manager for Sweden.

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