Sunlight Hours as a Guide: Enhancing Crop Selection in Agrivoltaic Fields
Abstract
In agricultural regions, agrivoltaic systems (AVS) represent a promising solution to optimize land use by integrating food production with solar energy generation. This study presents a visual and analytical approach to evaluate sunlight availability beneath photovoltaic (PV) modules, using a case study conducted at the Solar Energy Research Laboratory Fotovoltaica/UFSC in Florianópolis, Brazil (27°S). Simulations were performed in SketchUp® using the SunHours plugin to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of sunlight across planting beds. Results indicate that average daily sunlight under the AVS ranges from 4 to 5 hours, compared to 9 to 10 hours in open-sky conditions, aligning well with the optimal light requirements for the selected crop, lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ). The shading created by PV modules can reduce thermal stress and support stable crop productivity, highlighting the potential of AVS to balance agricultural and energy objectives. The proposed methodology offers a practical decision-support tool for crop selection, system configuration, and tracker operation strategies. For this project, continuous field monitoring will further assist in refining tracker operation, correlating sunlight availability with actual crop performance and energy yield, reinforcing the integration of renewable energy with sustainable agriculture.
Keywords
Agrivoltaic systems (AVS), Photovoltaic Systems, Sunlight hours, Shading, Shade-tolerant crops