Agrivoltaics for Sugarcane

August 25, 2025

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by Emiliano Bellini (PV Magazine) Brazilian scientists have investigated the potential of agrivoltaics on sugarcane fields and have found this combination may provide benefits in terms of both agricultural and electricity yield. Their results showed that under certain conditions the sugarcane yield below the panels can be higher than that of plots without PV.

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“Our analysis showed that crop yield was higher in the agrivoltaic environment as compared to the conventional environment cultivation,” the research's lead author, Leonardo Faustino Lacerda de Souza, told pv magazine. “These performances, combined with electrical production, led to high land use efficiency values. This is relevant for a state like Alagoas, where sugarcane covers around 324,500 hectares spread across 67 municipalities.”

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The analysis also showed that sugarcane yield in the agrivoltaic system was higher than a reference cultivation area without solar panels. Sugarcane stalk yield in the agrivoltaic areas was found to be 43.2% higher than in the reference area, which the scientists attributed to higher photosynthesis capacity. “We infer that sugarcane yield reflected the higher leaf area index (LAI) throughout growth in the agrivoltaic system,” they further explained.

These results were also attributed to the PV system's ability to adjust inter-unit distances and modify shading levels over the crops. “Our primary goal has been to provide the analytical tools necessary for designing and evaluating the performance of APV systems on sugarcane at any given time,” the academics concluded.

Their findings are available in the study “Agrophotovoltaic systems in sugarcane crop − A Brazilian case study,” published in Energy Conversion and Management. READ MORE

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Agrophotovoltaic systems in sugarcane crop − A Brazilian case study (Energy Conversion and Magagement)

Excerpt from Energy Conversion and Management:

Highlights

Solar panels over sugarcane enhance both energy production and agricultural yield.
Combined solar and sugarcane farming increases land use efficiency by 73 %.
Partial shading mitigates heat stress, improving sugarcane growth and biomass.
The agrophotovoltaic system achieved a capacity factor of 16.88 %.
Sugarcane yield increased by 43 % compared to conventional cultivation.

Abstract

Agrophotovoltaic (APV) systems address land-use conflicts between agriculture and photovoltaic energy production, particularly in regions like northeastern Brazil with high solar irradiance and extensive sugarcane cultivation. This study explores whether integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems above sugarcane crops can enhance energy generation and agricultural productivity. We hypothesize that the shading provided by PV modules may alleviate thermal and water stress on sugarcane, resulting in improved crop growth without compromising solar energy production. A pilot APV system with a capacity of 71.4 kWp was deployed over sugarcane fields, and its structural integrity, energy performance, microclimate impacts, and crop responses were monitored for one year. The system achieved a Final Yield of 109.51 kWh kWp−1, a Capacity Factor of 16.88 %, and a Performance Ratio of 68.63 %. In contrast, the average sugarcane yields under the APV system were 38.79 % higher than those of conventional cultivation (82.02 vs. 59.10 Mg ha−1 for stalk biomass). The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) reached 1.69, indicating that combined land use outperforms isolated agriculture or energy production by 69 %. These results demonstrate that APV systems can significantly enhance land-use efficiency while increasing energy generation and crop productivity, positioning sugarcane-based APV as a viable solution for sustainable development in tropical regions.

Introduction

Solar energy conversion into electricity through photovoltaic technology is widely utilized worldwide. This technology has matured, leading to reduced costs for modules and inverters, and continues expanding [1]. However, the extensive installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems often occupies spaces that could otherwise be used for food production, resulting in land use conflicts, particularly in regions with limited land area [2].

An alternative to mitigate this problem is integrating PV systems with crops in the same area, a technique that has been examined in various countries [3]. These systems are known as Agrophotovoltaic (APV) systems, a term adopted in this work, although Agrovoltaic or Agrivoltaic are also used.

APV systems offer an excellent strategy to increase PV installed capacity without competing for land needed for food and energy production [4]. These systems should be designed to optimize the yield from each consortium member by maximizing land use. Consequently, they provide greater energy efficiency than single-use activities and significantly enhance income per unit of land area.

The success of an APV system requires knowledge in both agricultural sciences and electrical engineering. When the integration between farm production and the supply of photovoltaic energy to the grid is well established, it can nearly double the income per unit of land area [5]. However, further studies are needed in the APV area, as every agricultural crop, climatic region, soil type, module density, and type of support structure for PV modules influences the system's performance.

Research on APV systems with various crops has already been conducted, including apple [6] and tomato [7]. Studies in tropical and subtropical regions report that APV systems present a viable strategy for sustainable land use, offering benefits such as improved crop microclimates, efficient water use, and additional income streams for farmers. However, fully realizing their potential requires tailored system designs, comprehensive economic analyses, and scalable models. In tropical Nigeria, PV modules significantly influenced the microclimate beneath them, reducing photosynthetically active radiation and leaf temperature, while enhancing relative humidity and photochemical efficiency in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) crops. This resulted in improved plant growth and yield compared to areas without PV modules [8]. In Brazil's Minas Gerais region, the first APV research pilot was designed with elevated PV modules to accommodate local crops like beans and coffee. The design focused on minimizing shading and ensuring structural stability against tropical weather conditions, highlighting the importance of tailored engineering solutions [9]. However, no study has been conducted on sugarcane cultivation within APV systems, making this research pioneering in Alagoas (Brazil).

In Alagoas, sugarcane occupies the largest cultivated area, covering 324,500 ha, and is found in more than 50 % of the state's municipalities [10]. Another favorable aspect for APV in the studied region is the potential for global solar irradiation (Hg), which is approximately 5.1 kWh m−2 per day or 2,003 kWh m−2 per year [11]. Therefore, studying and implementing APV systems in sugarcane fields in Alagoas offers promising prospects for positive outcomes.

The emphasis on designing support structures in APV systems for sugarcane cultivation arises from various distinct requirements and challenges unique to this crop. Sugarcane is notable for its considerable height, typically reaching about three meters at full maturity, and requires extensive mechanical operations for planting, maintenance, and harvesting. These agricultural practices demand significant vertical clearance beneath PV modules to accommodate large harvesting equipment without obstruction. Additionally, sugarcane crops are sensitive to shading, negatively affecting growth rates and sucrose accumulation. Therefore, careful design considerations such as module spacing, tilt angles, and structural height become crucial for minimizing shading effects while maintaining efficient solar energy production. Furthermore, the structural system must be sturdy enough to withstand local environmental conditions, particularly wind loads, to ensure that agricultural and energy production operations are sustained over extended periods. Thus, developing optimized support structures tailored specifically for sugarcane APV systems represents a vital and innovative contribution, addressing previously underexplored technical challenges and filling a significant research gap in the existing literature.

This work aims to investigate the APV system technology in sugarcane crops. The highlights include sizing and performance measurement of the PV module support structure, analysis of the PV system performance, impacts of PV installations on the microenvironment and crop growth, and finally, the effect on land use. READ MORE