Overview
Agrivoltaics, or the practice of combining agriculture with the production of solar energy, is gaining popularity in South America. The continent has vast areas of land suitable for both agriculture and solar energy production, making it an ideal location for agrivoltaic projects.
In Chile, for example, there are several agrivoltaic projects underway, including one in the Coquimbo region where solar panels have been installed above avocado trees. The panels provide shade to the trees, reducing water consumption and preventing sunburn on the fruit, resulting in higher quality avocados. The panels also generate clean energy, which is sold to the grid.
In Brazil, there is an agrivoltaic project in the state of Minas Gerais, where solar panels have been installed above coffee plants. The panels provide shade to the plants, reducing water stress and preventing sunburn on the coffee beans, resulting in higher quality coffee. The project also generates clean energy, which is used to power the farm and nearby communities.
In Argentina, there is an agrivoltaic project in the province of Mendoza, where solar panels have been installed above grape vines. The panels provide shade to the vines, reducing water consumption and preventing sunburn on the grapes, resulting in higher quality wine. The project also generates clean energy, which is sold to the grid.
We are excited for the opportunity to feature agrivoltaic systems from South America and invite collaborators from this region to contact us!
Building the Atlas
We launched the Agrivoltaic Atlas on April 12, 2023 for the AgriVoltaics 2023 conference in Daegu, South Korea. We launch with the goal of demonstrating the idea and gathering interest from partners around the world to contribute. If you would like to contribute, contact findme@kailepley.com.