Q Energy France presents photovoltaics for hydroponics
photovoltaics, Q Energy France, hydroponics, new technology
The prototype system covers an area of 250 m² and is equipped with a rainwater recovery system. Q Energy France and its partner Aquacosy are now looking for land for a larger project.
Renewable energy developer Q Energy France and hydroponics specialist Aquacosy have unveiled a pilot photovoltaic system linked to hydroponic cultivation in the town of Montauban in the French department of Tarn et Garonne.
Hydroponic farms grow crops that do not use soil and use mineral nutrient solutions in an aqueous solvent, usually in greenhouses or indoors. They consist of an above-ground cultivation system in which plants are grown with their roots in water enriched with natural and organic nutrients using biological control.
The hydroponic farm has an area of approximately 250 m² and is connected to photovoltaics with an installed capacity of 9,3 kW equipped with a hydraulic system with two rainwater recovery gutters. Thus, the rainwater flowing over the panels is collected in a basin, thus allowing continuous irrigation of the plantations thanks to the closed-circuit water pump system to conserve water resources.
The system, consisting of hygrometry sensors, sondes and a pump, is powered entirely by solar energy and was designed according to a protocol approved by the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
"The prototype shows very encouraging initial results both in terms of agricultural production performance and the extension of production periods thanks, in particular, to strong protection against wind and frost," the companies said in a joint statement. “Furthermore, it can be established anywhere, preferably on land of very low agricultural value. It has no negative impact on the environment and makes it possible to grow 100% natural, diversified and dense production in five to 15 times less space."
For the next step, the partners are looking for land for a larger project and hope to demonstrate these same benefits to agricultural production. "This is an ideal tool for regions that want to create short food and energy chains while promoting the creation of rural jobs," said Céline Spitzhorn, solar director of Q Energy France.
A Sino-Qatari research team recently evaluated the possibility of integrating energy production from Φ / Β with hydroponic farms in greenhouses or indoors. The scientists investigated, in particular, how a multi-season, electricity-intensive hydroponic plant production system can be connected to a PV system under different incentive policies, such as feed-in tariff (FIT) schemes, rebate schemes, net metering and improving electricity tariffs (IET), which consist of simply increasing electricity prices for consumers or reducing existing subsidies.
