Agrivoltaics, combining PV generation with farming, is on the rise in densely populated regions like Europe
TrinaTracker and Nextracker are tailoring their solar tracker designs to support agricultural activities, such as fisheries and livestock grazing, with plans to adapt their products further for agrivoltaics needs
Antai and Scorpius are focused on developing taller, stable tracker designs to support agrivoltaics applications
Agrivoltaics, where PV power generation is combined with farming, is gaining traction as a promising application of photovoltaic technology, and companies in the solar tracker industry are actively exploring innovative solutions to optimize this synergy. As the demand for such dual-purpose installations grows, particularly in densely populated regions like Europe, where land policies are strict and sustainability is high on the agenda, companies are developing trackers that adapt to the unique requirements of integrating agriculture with solar power generation.
TrinaTracker reports that a significant share of its domestic market comes from agrivoltaics combined with fisheries applications, and the company is receiving numerous inquiries from Europe and APAC regions. Despite challenges faced by developers, TrinaTracker remains optimistic about the AgriPV sector's growth potential.
Nextracker acknowledges the potential for trackers in agrivoltaics, highlighting instances where its products have been deployed on mixed-use lands that support activities like sheep grazing. Although Nextracker has not specifically developed trackers for agrivoltaics with taller configurations, its existing products are being adapted to meet customer needs in these applications, showing the company's flexibility in responding to emerging market trends (see Adapting Solar Trackers For Complex Terrains).
Antai, for instance, is collaborating with wind tunnel facilities to test and develop trackers suitable for agrivoltaics, focusing on increased height and design stability to meet the specific demands of agricultural applications. Although agrivoltaics does not yet represent a significant portion of Antai's market, the company sees a growing interest across Europe and other regions.
In contrast, while Nevados observes applications of trackers in agrivoltaics and fishery ponds in China and Europe, it sees ample space for solar installations in the US – its prime market. Complex applications are considered unnecessary, according to the company.
Scorpius has recently ventured into agrivoltaics, starting a project in Maharashtra, India. The company has encountered challenges such as rising costs due to the need for increased height and ground clearance, which are crucial for accommodating agricultural activities under the solar panels.
The text is an excerpt from the latest TaiyangNews Solar Trackers Market Survey 2024, which can be downloaded for free here.
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