Agri-voltaics research: tomato cultivation under solar panels

As part of a project related to Biosphere 2, experts conducted an experiment on growing cherry tomatoes under solar panel structures. The results showed that shading allows plants to maintain the same level of productivity while reducing irrigation volumes by 50% compared to plots located in full sun.

The study also revealed a reduction in the level of water stress in crops during daytime by approximately 40%. Scientists note that the use of agrivoltaic systems helps to reduce thermal impact on plants. This method may become a sustainable solution for agricultural regions facing the problem of water resource scarcity, as it combines solar energy generation with the growing of food crops.