With the formal guidelines regarding agrivoltaics in Italy in place, this article acts as an easy and straightforward guide on agrivoltaics in Italy following the official definitions.
Table of contents
The definition of agrivoltaics in Italy
Agrivoltaic plant is the one which:
i) adopts innovative integrative solutions with the assembly of the modules raised from the ground, also providing for the rotation of the modules themselves, in any case, so as not to compromise the continuity of the activities of agricultural and pastoral cultivation, also possibly allowing the application of tools of digital and precision agriculture;
ii) provides for the simultaneous implementation of monitoring systems that make it possible to verify the impact of photovoltaic installation on crops, water-saving, agricultural productivity for the various types of crops, the continuity of the activities of the farms concerned, the recovery of fertility soil, microclimate, resilience to climate change.
The possible agrivoltaics configurations are various in order to optimize the global performance of the plant. To learn more about agrivoltaic installations and benefits can easily be done by reading our guest blog on agrivoltaics by Giancarlo Ghidesi, COO of REM Tec, the leading Agrovoltaico® company in Europe.
Requirements for Italian agrivoltaic support schemes
The following requirements apply to all the agrivoltaic plants being eligible for the support schemes.
The system is designed and built in such a way as to adopt a spatial configuration and appropriate technological choices, such as to allow the integration between agricultural activity and electricity production and enhance the production potential of both subsystems.
Moreover, at least 70% of the area is intended for agricultural activity, in compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and a cap on the land area occupation ratio for the modules of 40%.
Sagricultural ≥ 0,7 ∙ 𝑆tot LAOR ≤ 40%
The agrivoltaic system is operated, during its technical life, in order to guarantee the synergistic production of electricity and agricultural products and not to compromise the continuity of agricultural and pastoral activity; the specific electricity production of an agrivoltaic system (PV in GWh / ha/year) correctly designed, compared to the specific reference electricity production of a standard photovoltaic system (standard PV in GWh / ha/year), should not be less than 60% of the latter.
𝐹𝑉𝑎𝑔𝑟𝑖 ≥ 0,6 ∙ 𝐹𝑉standard
The agrivoltaic system adopts innovative integrated solutions with modules raised from the ground, aimed at optimizing the performance of the agrivoltaic system in both energy and agricultural terms. A condition is configured in which there is a double use of the soil, and a maximum integration between the agrivoltaic system and the crop, i.e. the photovoltaic modules perform a synergistic function with the crop, which can be carried out in the protection of the crop (from excessive sunshine, hail, etc.).
The agrivoltaic system is equipped with a monitoring system that allows you to verify the impact on crops, water savings, agricultural productivity for the different types of crops, and the continuity of the activities of the farms concerned.
Legislative Decree 77/2021 requires that for the purpose of using incentives, an adequate monitoring system allows for verification of the performance of the agrivoltaic system with particular reference to the following conditions:
Water saving;
The continuity of agricultural activity, that is the impact on crops, agricultural productivity for the different types of crops or livestock, and the continuity of the activities of the farms concerned.
The agrivoltaic system is equipped with a monitoring system which, in addition to complying with requirement D, makes it possible to verify the recovery of soil fertility, microclimate, and resilience to climate change.
If you wish to read more on the incentives for Italian agrivoltaics, then we suggest taking your reading further and diving into our dedicated article on the incentives for agrivoltaics in Italy.
Additional parameters
In addition to the above, in order to evaluate the effects of the agrivoltaic achievements, the PNRR also provides for the monitoring of the following additional parameters (REQUIREMENT E):
· The recovery of soil fertility;
· The microclimate;
· Resilience to climate change.
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