Feedgy, a French company specialising in PV power plant optimisation, has unveiled a new HS-B96 AgriPV module this week.

Co-developed with Huasun, the module is said to be “the world's first TÜV Rheinland certified agrivoltaic solution”. The panel has been developed to benefit both farmers and energy producers.

Agrivoltaics is the practice of combining solar energy generation with agricultural production and aims to optimise light distribution for crops while simultaneously generating clean energy.

The HS-B96 AgriPV module fosters improved plant photosynthesis, potentially leading to higher yields for sectors like floriculture, horticulture and arboriculture while providing protection from extreme weather. It will also ensure optimal light utilisation for both plant growth and energy production, the company has said.

Harold Darras, president and founder of Feedgy, says: “The main challenge of agrivoltaics is its acceptability by stakeholders. Past developments have led to unconvincing results in terms of agricultural production, especially on photovoltaic greenhouses. This has contributed to a bad image of solarists in the agricultural world.”

“On the technical side, its challenge is to maximise both agricultural production and photovoltaic production,” Darras continues. Unlike conventional designs with static shading, this solution is semi-transparent and utilises photonic technology for optimal light management, avoiding issues like inefficient lighting and costly maintenance, he says.